<i>In Vitro</i> Schistosomicidal Activity of the Alkaloid-Rich Fraction from <i>Ruta graveolens</i> L. (Rutaceae) and Its Characterization by UPLC-QTOF-MS

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects million people worldwide, mostly in developing countries. Ruta graveolens (Rutaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine to treat several diseases, including parasitic infections. In this study, we reported the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of the R. graveolens extract ( Rg ) and its active fraction ( Rg-FAE ). Also, the characterization of Rg-FAE by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis and its in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania braziliensis were also performed. In vitro schistosomicidal assays were assessed against adult worms of S. mansoni , while cell viability against peritoneal macrophages was measured by MTT assay. Rg (100 μ g/mL) exhibited noticeable schistosomicidal activity, causing 100% mortality and decreasing motor activity of all adult male and female schistosomes, but with low activity against L. braziliensis . After chromatographic fractionation of Rg , fraction Rg-FAE was obtained, showing high activity against adult schistosomes. UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis of Rg-FAE revealed the presence of eleven alkaloids and one furanocoumarin. No significant antileishmanial activity was found for Rg , while Rg-FAE exhibited activity against L. braziliensis promastigotes. We demonstrated, for the first time, that the R. graveolens extract ( Rg ) and its alkaloid-rich fraction ( Rg-FAE ) are active against adult worms of S. mansoni , with no significant cytotoxicity on macrophages. Our findings open the route to further antiparasitic studies with the active fraction of R. graveolens and its identified compounds, especially alkaloids.