<i>Peganum harmala</i> Extract Has Antiamoebic Activity to <i>Acanthamoeba triangularis</i> Trophozoites and Changes Expression of Autophagy-Related Genes
Rachasak Boonhok,
Suthinee Sangkanu,
Julalak Chuprom,
Mayuna Srisuphanunt,
Roghayeh Norouzi,
Abolghasem Siyadatpanah,
Farzaneh Mirzaei,
Watcharapong Mitsuwan,
Sueptrakool Wisessombat,
Maria de Lourdes Pereira,
Mohammed Rahmatullah,
Polrat Wilairatana,
Christophe Wiart,
Lim Chooi Ling,
Karma G. Dolma,
Veeranoot Nissapatorn
Affiliations
Rachasak Boonhok
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Suthinee Sangkanu
Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), School of Allied Health Sciences, Southeast Asia Water Team (SEA Water Team) and World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Julalak Chuprom
Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), School of Allied Health Sciences, Southeast Asia Water Team (SEA Water Team) and World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Mayuna Srisuphanunt
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Roghayeh Norouzi
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
Abolghasem Siyadatpanah
Ferdows School of Paramedical and Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 9717853577, Iran
Farzaneh Mirzaei
Department Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 14188-15971, Iran
Watcharapong Mitsuwan
Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College and Research Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential Oil, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Sueptrakool Wisessombat
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Maria de Lourdes Pereira
CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
Polrat Wilairatana
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Christophe Wiart
School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Selangor 43500, Malaysia
Lim Chooi Ling
Division of Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Karma G. Dolma
Department of Microbiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS), Sikkim 737102, India
Veeranoot Nissapatorn
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Peganum harmala, a well-known medicinal plant, has been used for several therapeutic purposes as it contains numerous pharmacological active compounds. Our study reported an anti-parasitic activity of P. harmala seed extract against Acanthamoeba triangularis. The stress induced by the extract on the surviving trophozoites for Acanthamoeba encystation and vacuolization was examined by microscopy, and transcriptional expression of Acanthamoeba autophagy-related genes was investigated by quantitative PCR. Our results showed that the surviving trophozoites were not transformed into cysts, and the number of trophozoites with enlarged vacuoles were not significantly different from that of untreated control. Molecular analysis data demonstrated that the mRNA expression of tested AcATG genes, i.e., ATG3, ATG8b, and ATG16, was at a basal level along the treatment. However, upregulation of AcATG16 at 24 h post treatment was observed, which may indicate an autophagic activity of this protein in response to the stress. Altogether, these data revealed the anti-Acanthamoeba activity of P. harmala extract and indicated the association of autophagy mRNA expression and cyst formation under the extract stress, representing a promising plant for future drug development. However, further identification of an active compound and a study of autophagy at the protein level are needed.
