Proteomics and bioprospecting of the effects of Mentha piperita L. during Schistosoma mansoni infection experimental model

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by blood worms of the genus Schistosoma and it is estimated that over 249 million people are affected worldwide. The limited amount of drugs used to treat the development of resistance to existing anthelmintics suggests priority in the development of new drugs. The murine model has been used extensively to study the immunopathology of the disease and the development of new drugs, since they exhibit much of the characteristics of human disease. The Mentha piperita L. popularly known as peppermint, have had their antiparasitic effects demonstrated, but its role in S. mansoni is still unknown. The project proposes the treatment with the herbal preparation from Mentha piperita L., comprising menthol and menthone in mice infected with S. mansoni. The Comet assay is used to assess possible genotoxic effects in liver and spleen cells of these mice, as well as its effect on adult worms of S. mansoni during infection. In addition, proteomic analysis will be performed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass espectrometry (MAS) for the evaluation of protein expression of the parasite method and evaluate which proteins are suffering changes after treatment. The work aims to provide important information on the biological effects of M. piperita in the murine model of schistosomiasis, allowing the development of new tools for the treatment of schistosomiasis. (AU)