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