Startseite Biochemical insights into the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory potential of sea cucumber extract: In vitro and in silico approaches
Artikel Open Access

Biochemical insights into the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory potential of sea cucumber extract: In vitro and in silico approaches

  • Felwa A. Thagfan , Youssef A. El-Sayed , Ahmed Abdel-Moneim , Rewaida Abdel-Gaber , Murad A. Mubaraki , Mohamed A. Dkhil EMAIL logo und Rania G. Taha
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 3. Juli 2025
Artikel downloaden (PDF)
Open Chemistry
Aus der Zeitschrift Open Chemistry Band 23 Heft 1

Abstract

Helminthiasis is a global parasitic disease, and current anthelmintics like albendazole are costly, toxic, and increasingly ineffective due to resistance. Marine organisms, such as Holothuria polii, rich in bioactive compounds, are emerging as alternative therapeutic sources. This study evaluated the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory effects of Holothuria polii extract (HpE) and identified potential molecular targets through docking studies. Allolobophora caliginosa was used as a model worm. Five groups were tested: three HpE doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/ml), a distilled water control, and albendazole (20 mg/ml). HpE’s chemical composition was analyzed via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). HpE induced rapid paralysis and death of worms, outperforming albendazole. GC–MS identified 20 bioactive compounds. Histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed cuticle damage in HpE-treated worms. HpE also inhibited nitric oxide production by 44.4, 46, and 49% at increasing doses. Molecular docking revealed that 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol had the highest affinity for the tubulin β-chain of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, surpassing albendazole in docking score (−5.704 vs −3.656). HpE exhibits potent in vitro anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory activity, supporting further investigation as a novel anthelmintic therapy.

Keywords: Holothuria polii ; Allolobophora caliginosa ; anthelmintic; cuticle thickness; SEM; molecular docking; NO

1 Introduction

More than 1.5 billion people are afflicted by helminthic infections, which continue to be a serious worldwide health concern, especially in tropical and subtropical areas, where they greatly increase the morbidity and mortality [1,2]. Helminths continue to produce significant disease burden in humans and livestock globally despite decades of research [3]. Furthermore, the development of anthelmintic resistance and the negative consequences of traditional therapies like albendazole and praziquantel highlight the pressing need for safer, more efficient substitutes [4,5]. Natural products are becoming more and more recognized as prospective sources of new anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic drugs [6,7,8]. Pharmacologically active substances such as triterpene glycosides, phenolics, and sterols are abundant in marine species, particularly sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea), and have been demonstrated to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [9,10,11,12]. In earlier research, the Mediterranean sea cucumber species Holothuria polii demonstrated effectiveness against infections caused by Schistosoma mansoni and Eimeria [13,14].

Some natural substances have antiparasitic properties, but they also control inflammation by controlling the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), a major pro-inflammatory mediation that is generated by activated macrophages’ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) [15,16,17]. The control of NO contributes to anti-inflammatory responses, but its overproduction can cause tissue injury [16,17]. Molecular docking is a useful computational method for forecasting interactions between bioactive substances and target proteins; it provides insights into potential mechanisms of action [18,19,20]. Studies on parasites like Plasmodium and Leishmania have effectively used this technique.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory properties of H. polii extract (HpE) in vitro using Allolobophora caliginosa as a model organism. Additionally, to support the therapeutic potential of HpE, we used gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify the chemical compounds of the extract and docking analysis to investigate their possible molecular targets.

2 Methods

2.1 Extraction of H. polii

H. polii specimens were collected from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria, Egypt. Purcell et al. [21] confirmed the taxonomic identification of the species. The specimens were cleaned and washed in running tap water. The body wall was divided into little pieces, and the visceral organs were removed. Samples of the material were first air-dried to remove moisture, then ground into a fine powder using an electric blender to increase the surface area for extraction. The powdered material was soaked in 70% methanol (v/v) at room temperature for a specific period (usually 24–72 h), allowing the solvent to dissolve the bioactive compounds. After soaking, the mixture was typically filtered to separate the liquid extract from the solid residues [22]. The obtained mixture was continuously stirred from time to time and then incubated at 4°C for 24 h. After that, it was centrifuged for 15 min at 5,000 rpm and filtered. The resultant supernatant was concentrated in a rotatory evaporator at 50°C and under decreased pressure. The extract powder was freeze-dried and kept at −80°C to obtain 400, 200, and 100 mg/ml HpE. These selected doses were based on preliminary pilot experiments conducted to identify effective concentrations that induce observable anthelmintic effects without causing excessive degradation of worm tissues. These doses also fall within the range commonly used in similar in vitro anthelmintic assays reported in the literature for marine-derived or plant-based extracts [9,13]. As for albendazole, the dose of 20 mg/ml was selected based on previous standard protocols used in in vitro studies evaluating its efficacy against earthworm models, including A. caliginosa. This concentration reliably induces paralysis and death, allowing it to serve as a suitable reference for comparison with the extract [2,7].

2.2 Chemical analysis of HpE by GC–MS

The compound identification in GC–MS analysis was performed using spectral matching with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Mass Spectral Library. The identification was based on a comparison of the obtained mass spectra with those in the NIST database, and compounds were selected based on high matching scores. Analytical standards were not used for further confirmation in this study; however, the spectral library matching provides a reliable preliminary identification of the chemical constituents present in the extract. A Thermo Scientific 7000D Triple Quadrupole GC–MS instrument was utilized. By comparing the gathered mass spectra for substances to those in the Wiley/NBS mass spectral database of the GC–MS data system, peaks were recognized from the chromatogram generated after MS analysis [23]. The molecular structure and chemical formula of the compounds revealed were obtained from the National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information.

2.3 In vitro anthelmintic activity of HpE

2.3.1 Experimental worms

Adult earthworms A. caliginosa were collected from the moist soil of Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt, to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the HpE.

2.3.2 In vitro experimental design

The experimental worms were categorized into five groups, each with five worms of similar size. A group of A. caliginosa were immersed in distilled H2O as a control. Three concentrations of HpE were used (100, 200, and 400 mg/ml), and a group of worms were immersed in albendazole (20 mg/ml) (EIPICO, Tenth of Ramadan City, Egypt) [24]. The time it took for worms to become paralyzed and die was measured in minutes [25]. The values are expressed as means and standard deviations.

2.3.3 Histological examination and cuticle thickness

The treated and control worms were processed for histological examination using the procedure of Drury and Wallington [26]. After fixing the specimens in 10% formalin for 24 h, they were dehydrated in an ascending ethanol series and embedded in paraffin. Tissues were thinly sectioned with a microtome, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and photographed with an Olympus-B61 microscope (Tokyo, Japan). Each group’s worm cuticle was measured using a calibrated ocular micrometer. The values are expressed as mean values and standard deviations.

2.3.4 Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

SEM was performed on treated and control worms immediately after their observed paralysis and death [27]. After being fixed in 3% buffered glutaraldehyde for 2 h at 4°C, the worms were dehydrated with acetone, air-dried in TMS (tetramethylsilane), then mounted on metal stubs, and were gold-palladium coated. Specimens were studied and photographed with a JEOL JSM-6060LV at 15 kV accelerating voltage.

2.4 Anti-inflammatory activity of HpE

At physiological pH, sodium nitroprusside in aqueous solution produces NO, which reacts with oxygen to form nitrite ions. This can be determined using the Griess reaction. About 2 m1 of 10 mM sodium nitroprusside in 0.5 ml phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4) was combined with 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 ml of HpE (200 mg/ml) and incubated for 2 h at 25°C. Approximately 0.5 ml of the incubated mixture was taken and mixed with 1.0 ml of sulfanilic acid reagent (33% in 20% glacial acetic acid) before incubating at room temperature for 5 min. Finally, 1.0 ml of naphthyl ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (0.1% w/v) was added and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. Absorbance was measured at 546 nm. The NO radical scavenging activity was determined using the following equation: % inhibition = (A 0 − A 1)/A 0 × 100, where A 0 is the absorbance of the control substance and A1 is the absorbance of the test sample. All reactions were carried out in triplicate. Vitamin C was employed as a positive control [28].

2.5 Molecular docking of the extract

The molecular docking analysis of HpE revealed several bioactive compounds acting as ligands, and the tubulin β-chain served as the target protein in the parasite Parelaphostrongylus tenuis. These compounds included acetone dimethyl ketal, 1-dimethyl(pentafluorophenyl)silyloxycyclopentane,2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone, bis(trimethylsilyl) ether, 2,2-dimethoxybutane, octamethyltetrasiloxane, 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol, 1,3,3-trimethoxybutane, 3,3-dimethoxy-2-butanone, 1-(acetyloxy)propyl acetate, methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate, 1,2-dipropenyl-cyclobutane, 4-ethyl-2,2-dimethylhexane, 3-ethyloctane, sulfurous acid, 5-isobutylnonane, and undecane. Molecular docking simulations were performed using Schrodinger Maestro 14.0 software to predict the binding affinities and interaction modes of these compounds, as well as albendazole as a reference drug, with the selected protein target [18].

2.5.1 Ligand preparation

The chemical structures of all bioactive compounds and albendazole were retrieved from the PubChem database (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and prepared using LigPrep 2.9 [29]. The Minimization tools in MacroModel were used to minimize the energy of these molecules. A Site Map was used to visualize the target proteins’ binding locations. Schrodinger Maestro 14 set the compounds to the default hard potential function and Glide docking parameters.

2.5.2 Protein preparation

Schrodinger’s Maestro version 14 was used to create the protein’s three-dimensional structures. The AlphaFold tool within ChimeraX 1.9 software was used to predict the complete 3D structure of the tubulin β-chain. The protein was first input into the “Protein Preparation Wizard module” of Schrodinger Maestro [30].

2.5.3 In silico molecular modeling

In silico docking was used to determine the inhibitory mode of action of the studied ligands. Before docking, the target protein must be properly prepared to ensure it is in an appropriate form. The Protein Preparation Workflow tool, part of Schrödinger’s software suite, typically includes tasks that ensure the protein is biologically relevant and free from errors that could affect the docking results. Potential ligand-binding sites were predicted using the Site Map tool, which analyzes the protein’s surface to identify sites that are most likely to bind molecules. These sites are critical for generating the receptor grid used in docking simulations. A grid was created around the protein’s binding site to guide ligand docking. The ligands were docked using Glide’s Extra Precision (XP) mode, one of the highest-accuracy docking modes. The docking results were then visualized and analyzed using Maestro [31].

2.6 Statistical analysis

Groups were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a post-hoc Duncan test was performed at a P-value of less than 0.05. GraphPad Prism software (version 3, USA) was used for statistical analysis, and P ≤ 0.05 was chosen as the significant level.

3 Results

3.1 Chemical compounds in the HpE

According to the chemical analysis of HpE by GC–MS, it contains 20 chemical compounds with different molecular weights (MWs), peak areas, and retention durations (Table 1). Acetone dimethyl ketal; 1-dimethyl(pentafluorophenyl)silyloxycyclopentane; 7-(β-hydroxyethyl)theophylline tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether; 1-(2,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)oxy)phenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-one; (cyclopentyloxy)(dimethyl)(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl) silane; 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone, bis(trimethylsilyl) ether; 2,2-dimethoxybutane; octamethyltetrasiloxane; 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol; 1,3,3-trimethoxybutane; 3,3-dimethoxy-2-butanone; 1-(acetyloxy)propyl acetate; methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate; propane-1,1-diol diacetate; 1,2-dipropenyl-cyclobutane; 4-ethyl-2,2-dimethylhexane; 3-ethyloctane; 2-ethylhexyl hexyl ester sulfurous acid; 5-isobutylnonane; and undecane were the compounds for which the peaks were recorded.

Table 1

Identification of chemical compounds by GC–MS in HpE

Peak RT Area sum % Compounds Structure formula
1 6.707 4.38 Acetone dimethyl ketal
C5H12O2
2 6.912 2.21 1-Dimethyl(pentafluorophenyl)silyloxycyclopentane
C13H15F5OSi
3 7.442 1.4 7-(β-Hydroxyethyl)theophylline tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether
C9H12N4O3
4 7.542 1.57 1-(2,4-Bis(trimethylsilyl)oxy)phenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-one
C22H36O4Si2
5 7.772 5.66 (Cyclopentyloxy)(dimethyl)(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)silane
C13H15F5OSi
6 8.348 4.25 2,5-Dihydroxyacetophenone, bis(trimethylsilyl) ether
C14H24O3Si2
7 9.229 30.24 2,2-Dimethoxybutane
C6H14O2
8 9.475 2.09 Octamethyltetrasiloxane
C8H24O3Si4
9 9.722 1.36 1-(3-Hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol
C20H24O2
10 10.87 1.59 1,3,3-Trimethoxybutane
C7H16O3
11 11.3 2.03 3,3-Dimethoxy-2-butanone
C6H12O3
12 11.46 1.36 1-(Acetyloxy)propyl acetate
C15H25NO5
13 11.66 0.19 Methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate
C10H21NO4Si
14 12.39 0.45 Propane-1,1-diol diacetate
C7H12O4
15 15 0.48 1,2-Dipropenyl-cyclobutane
C10H16
16 15.3 0.86 4-Ethyl-2,2-dimethylhexane
C10H22
17 15.37 0.85 3-Ethyloctane
C10H22
18 15.45 1.84 2-Ethylhexyl hexyl ester sulfurous acid
C14H30O3S
19 15.57 2.27 5-Isobutylnonane
C13H28
20 16.11 34.92 Undecane
C11H24

3.2 In vitro anthelmintic activity of HpE

In comparison to albendazole, the methanolic extract of H. polii showed a comparative anthelmintic action against adult earthworms (A. caliginosa) with a high statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.01). The highest effective dose (400 mg/kg) caused paralysis (time for paralysis – TP) and death (time for death – TD) at 1.17 ± 0.14 and 2.99 ± 0.53 min, respectively. The dose 200 mg/ml caused TP and TD at 2.26 ± 0.14 and 4.88 ± 0.65 min, respectively, while the lowest dose of 100 mg/kg induced paralysis and death at TP and TD of 5.49 ± 1.40 and 8.22 ± 1.41 min, respectively. However, albendazole (20 mg/ml) showed a lower effect with an TP of 21.89 ± 1.05 and an TD of 30.14 ± 3.21 min (Table 2).

Table 2

In vitro anthelmintic activity of HpE

Test samples Concentration (mg/ml) TP (min) TD (min)
Control — — —
HpE 100 mg/ml 5.49 ± 1.40 8.22 ± 1.41
200 mg/ml 2.26 ± 0.14 4.88 ± 0.65
400 mg/ml 1.17 ± 0.14 2.99 ± 0.53
Albendazole 20 mg/ml 21.89 ± 1.05 30.14 ± 3.21

3.2.1 Investigation of the effect of HpE on the earthworm tegument’s histology and cuticle thickness by SEM

The normal structure of the earthworm tegument, as investigated using a light microscope, consists of an outer layer of epidermis of supporting columnar cells, gland cells, basal cells, and sensory cells. Muscular layers have an outer thin layer of circular muscle fibers and an inner thick layer of longitudinal muscle fibers (Figure 1a). Also, SEM analysis of A. caliginosa showed that the control worms had a continuous normal body architecture with a normal segment length (Figure 2). The worms treated with 100 mg/ml HpE showed some degenerative changes, including erosion of muscle and epidermal cells. Higher doses of HpE, as well as albendazole, showed prominent erosion of the body wall involving necrosis, proliferation of glandular cells, disorganization, fibrosis of muscle layers, enlargement of epidermal cells, and formation of spaces between muscle layers (Figure 1b–e). The doses of HpE and albendazole affect the cuticle thickness of A. caliginosa (Figures 1 and 3a). The cuticle thickness decreased to (0.89 ± 0.07) in the 100 mg/ml concentration compared with control worms (1.96 ± 0.343). At the same time, it was significantly reduced to (0.77 ± 0.086) and (0.6 ± 0.19) in the doses of 200 and 400 mg/ml, respectively, as compared with worms treated with albendazole (0.98 ± 0.18) (Table 3).

Figure 1 Histology of the cuticle of A. caliginosa following various treatments. (a) The control group. (b) 100 mg/ml HpE. (c) 200 mg/ml HpE. (d) 400 mg/ml HpE. (e) 20 mg/ml albendazole. Sections were stained with H&E. Scale bar = 10 µm.
Figure 1

Histology of the cuticle of A. caliginosa following various treatments. (a) The control group. (b) 100 mg/ml HpE. (c) 200 mg/ml HpE. (d) 400 mg/ml HpE. (e) 20 mg/ml albendazole. Sections were stained with H&E. Scale bar = 10 µm.

Figure 2 SEM images of A. caliginosa following various treatments. (a) The control group. (b) 20 mg/ml albendazole. (c) 400 mg/ml HpE. (d) 200 mg/ml HpE. (e) 100 mg/ml HpE.
Figure 2

SEM images of A. caliginosa following various treatments. (a) The control group. (b) 20 mg/ml albendazole. (c) 400 mg/ml HpE. (d) 200 mg/ml HpE. (e) 100 mg/ml HpE.

Figure 3 Change in the cuticle thickness of A. caliginosa (µm) following various treatments. Each group represents an average of five different fields of cuticle, and values are expressed as means ± SD. *significance (P ≤ 0.05) against the control group.
Figure 3

Change in the cuticle thickness of A. caliginosa (µm) following various treatments. Each group represents an average of five different fields of cuticle, and values are expressed as means ± SD. *significance (P ≤ 0.05) against the control group.

Table 3

Change in the cuticle thickness of A. caliginosa (µm)

Test samples Concentration (mg/ml) Cuticle thickness (µm)
Control — 1.96 ± 0.34
HpE 100 0.89 ± 0.07
200 0.77 ± 0.086
400 0.6 ± 0.19
Albendazole 20 0.98 ± 0.18

3.2.2 Anti-inflammatory activity of HpE

Three different doses of HpE (100, 200, and 400 mg/ml) caused potent inhibition of NO production in vitro (44.39, 46, and 49%) for the three concentrations, respectively (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Percentage of inhibition of NO by three different concentrations of HpE.
Figure 4

Percentage of inhibition of NO by three different concentrations of HpE.

3.2.3 Molecular docking analysis and evaluation of the extract

In the molecular docking analysis, 15 compounds were found, as determined by GC–MS analysis, and one chemical compound (albendazole) served as a reference drug against helminth parasites. The results of molecular docking analysis are summarized in Table 4. The 3D structure of the tubulin β-chain of the target protein of the nematode P. tenuis is shown in Figure 5. The docking scores revealed that 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol exhibited the highest binding affinity to the tubulin β-chain, with a docking score of −5.704 kcal/mol. It interacted with the tubulin β-chain through two hydrogen bonds: the first between VAL19 (bond length: 1.81 Å) and the second between THR64 (bond length: 2.34 Å) (Figure 6). In comparison, albendazole, with a docking score of −3.656 kcal/mol, interacted with the tubulin β-chain through two hydrogen bonds with GLY21 (bond length: 2.10 and 2.11 Å). The hydrogen (H) bonding interactions in the best docking demonstrated that methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate formed three hydrogen bonds with GLY21 (bond lengths: 2.20 and 2.64 Å) and THR71 (bond length: 2.19 Å), resulting in the highest total number of hydrogen (H) bonds between tested compounds and the P. tenuis β-tubulin protein active site. In contrast, 3-ethyloctane had the lowest binding affinity to the tubulin β-chain, with a docking score of −1.601 and no hydrogen bonds. Additionally, undecane showed no binding affinity to the tubulin β-chain, with a docking score of 0.445 and no hydrogen bonds (Figures 6–8).

Table 4

Docking scores of the bioactive components from HpE with hydrogen (H) bonding interactions and their distances in Angstrom (Å)

Ligands Tubulin β chai docking score (kcal/mol) Tubulin β chain H-bond distance (Å)
Bioactive components in H. polii Acetone dimethyl ketal −2.681 GLY21 2.03
2.16
1-Dimethyl(pentafluorophenyl)silyloxycyclopentane −3.381 — —
2,5-Dihydroxyacetophenone, bis(trimethylsilyl) ether −3.322 — —
2,2-Dimethoxybutane −2.706 GLY21 2.23
THR71 2.22
Octamethyltetrasiloxane −2.619 THR71 1.92
1-(3-Hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol −5.704 VAL19 1.81
THR64 2.34
1,3,3-Trimethoxybutane −2.639 GLY21 2.08
THR71 2.29
3,3-Dimethoxy-2-butanone −3.072 GLY21 1.87
THR71 1.97
1-(Acetyloxy)propyl acetate/propane-1,1-diol diacetate −2.956 GLY21 1.91
THR71 2.27
Methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate −2.653 GLY21 2.20
2.64
THR71 2.19
1,2-Dipropenyl-cyclobutane −2.047 — —
4-Ethyl-2,2-dimethylhexane −1.772 — —
3-Ethyloctane −1.601 — —
Sulfurous acid −1.973 GLY21 2.11
5-Isobutylnonane −1.956 — —
Undecane 0.445 — —
Drug Albendazole −3.656 GLY21 2.10
2.11
Figure 5 Complete 3D structure of the tubulin β-chain of the nematode P. tenuis.
Figure 5

Complete 3D structure of the tubulin β-chain of the nematode P. tenuis.

Figure 6 Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) albendazole, (b) 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol, and (c) methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate.
Figure 6

Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) albendazole, (b) 1-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-5-indanol, and (c) methyl 4-methyl-4-nitroso-2-trimethylsiloxy-pentanoate.

Figure 7 Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) 3,3-dimethoxy-2-butanone, (b) 1-(acetyloxy) propyl acetate/propane-1,1-diol diacetate, and (c) acetone dimethyl ketal.
Figure 7

Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) 3,3-dimethoxy-2-butanone, (b) 1-(acetyloxy) propyl acetate/propane-1,1-diol diacetate, and (c) acetone dimethyl ketal.

Figure 8 Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) 2,2-dimethoxybutane, (b) 1,3,3-trimethoxybutane, and (c) sulfurous acid.
Figure 8

Interaction of the β-tubulin protein of the parasitic nematode with (a) 2,2-dimethoxybutane, (b) 1,3,3-trimethoxybutane, and (c) sulfurous acid.

4 Discussion

Helminth infections are the primary global cause of animal productivity losses [1]. Compared to the current conventional therapeutic arsenal, the search for innovative anthelmintic natural extracts can aid in creating phytotherapeutic treatments that are safer, more affordable, easier to get, and lower resistance risk. Plants, marine animals, and terrestrial microorganisms like fungi and bacteria are the main sources of natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that have been utilized medicinally [32]. Sea cucumber contains bioactive compounds with significant anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifungal, and antibacterial properties [12,33]. Many investigations have been conducted into the potential of natural compounds as anthelmintic agents [34,35,36,37].

Because of the physiological similarities between some intestinal roundworms that infect humans, the earthworm A. caliginosa has been used as the model organism for anthelmintic activity investigation [38]. The tegument of earthworms acts as an essential barrier between the organism and its surroundings. It helps retain moisture and guards against physical harm. The anthelmintic activity of HpE compared to albendazole has been investigated in the present work. The results revealed that it causes changes in and damage to the morphological structure of the earthworm A. caliginosa more than that caused by albendazole, as observed with a light microscope. The morphological alterations include swelling, sluggish movement, and coiling of the worms. These results are in agreement with those reported by Kumar et al. [39] following the insecticide application to two species of roundworms in India. According to SEM data, the thickness and segment length of the experimental worms decreased significantly when exposed to varying concentrations of HpE compared with albendazole. This may be explained by the pharmacokinetic effect of the extract and drug, which controls the concentration of the drugs at the parasite site by influencing the metabolic pathway, tissue distribution, excretion, and absorption time of drug [13,40]. These results agree with those reported by Mona et al. [13], who studied the anti-schistosomal effect of three species of sea cucumber extract. They observed by SEM various tegumental deformations like wrinkling, formation of many pores, and spine deformities. In addition, they recorded a reduced worm burden with a significant decrease in egg count. Natural products have become an invaluable resource for discovering new drugs over the centuries.

The present extract seems to paralyze and kill worms quickly, as the most efficient dose that caused paralysis and death for the adult earthworm was 400 mg/ml at 1.17 ± 0.14 and 2.99 ± 0.53 min, respectively, in comparison to albendazole, which had a lower effect. This could be attributed to the several bioactive components in sea cucumber extract, such as phenolics, glycosaminoglycan, triterpene glycosides, and sterols, that have significant anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. The information that is now available indicates that the external surface of helminths would be the primary route of absorption for a variety of chemical compounds, including several anthelmintic medications. In this case, the anthelmintic molecules must cross cell membranes to enter the biophase at the specific receptor position [40,41]. Mottier et al. [40] determined different mechanisms involved in the entry of benzimidazole (BZ) anthelmintic into their target worms. Moreover, natural compounds allow multitarget drug discovery [42]. Because reactive nitrogen species (ROS) cause oxidative stress, excess NO can cause inflammatory signaling and cell death. Hence, reducing excessive NO generation is a desirable treatment approach [43]. NO is thought to cause the circulatory system’s vasodilation. In addition, cytokine-activated macrophages, which generate NO in large quantities, are involved in immunological responses. NO plays a role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory lung, gastrointestinal, and joint diseases. In the present work, the HpE caused a decrease in the level of NO, which causes oxidative stress within the tissue and subsequently inhibits the inflammation process. In conclusion, HpE exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NO production. Molecular docking is a practical computational method for computer-aided drug design and structural molecular biology. It is widely used to predict the three dimensions of two-molecule interactions (compound–target enzymes) [44]. Molecular docking makes it possible to model the interactions between tiny compounds like BZ and the β-tubulin protein in helminths [45]. Molecular docking analysis provided insights into how bioactive components from sea cucumber extract may interact with the tubulin β-chain of the parasite. These interactions suggest potential therapeutic effects that could be explored further experimentally, guiding the development of new treatments. As a result, molecular docking is a useful technique for finding novel anthelmintic drugs made from natural materials, expediting the drug discovery process and improving our comprehension of molecular interactions. Additionally, by illuminating essential proteins’ kinetics and structural alterations, these computational techniques contributed valuable data to drug research initiatives [46]. In the present work, identifying the active phytochemical substances in the HpE and the molecular compounds with high binding affinity to the targets of the helminths provides important information about their therapeutic actions. Challapa-Mamani et al. [19] discussed how docking simulations could predict the binding affinity between small molecules and target proteins, aiding drug design against Leishmaniasis. Finding new therapeutic compounds has been much simpler since the development of computational drug screening technologies incorporating molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and numerous other molecular properties [47]. The results obtained imply that the HpE might serve as a potential substitute for synthetic anthelmintics sold commercially; however, more research is needed to verify these compounds’ potential applications in other domains.

5 Conclusions

The study finds that the HpE has strong in vitro anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic effects, indicating that it could be used as an alternative treatment agent to standard medications such as albendazole. However, additional research is needed to corroborate these findings in vivo. Future research should focus on assessing HpE’s safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and toxicological effects, as well as its efficacy in helminthiasis animal models, in order to better understand its clinical utility.

  1. Funding information: This study was supported by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2025R96), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and also by the Opening Researchers Funding Program (ORF-2025-655), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  2. Author contributions: Conceptualization: MAD. and AA.; methodology: MAM., YAE., AA., and RGT.; validation: MAD. and RGT.; formal analysis: MAD., YAE., and RGT.; investigation: MAD., RGT., and MAM.; data curation: RA. and FAT.; writing – original draft preparation: MAD., RGT., FAT., RA., and YAE.; writing – review and editing: MAD., AA., RGT., MAM., FAT., RA., and YAE.; visualization: MAD. and RGT.; supervision: MAM., AA., and RGT. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

  3. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

  4. Ethical approval: The authors have followed the rules of the ethics committee of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (HU-IACUC) Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Approval Number: HU-IACUC/Z/YE0911-53.

  5. Data availability statement: The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

[1] Ndjonka D, Rapado LN, Silber AM, Liebau E, Wrenger C. Natural products as a source for treating neglected parasitic diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;14(2):3395–439.10.3390/ijms14023395Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[2] Alhaiqi NS, Afifi SM, Mahyoub JA, Abdel‑Gaber RA, Delic D, Dkhil MA. Anthelmintic activity of Carica papaya leaf extracts: Insights from in vitro and in silico investigations. Comb Chem High Throughput Screening; 2024.10.2174/0113862073341577240925100048Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[3] Halton E. The living gesture and the signifying moment. Symb Interact. 2004;27(1):89–113.10.1525/si.2004.27.1.89Suche in Google Scholar

[4] Jayaraj P, Mathew B, Mani C, Govindarajan R. Isolation of chemical constituents from Spilanthes calva DC: Toxicity, anthelmintic efficacy and in silico studies. Biomed Prev Nutr. 2014;4(3):417–23.10.1016/j.bionut.2014.04.002Suche in Google Scholar

[5] Shi W, Xu N, Wang X, Vallée I, Liu M, Liu X. Helminth therapy for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: current and future perspectives. J Inflamm Res. 2022;15:475–91.10.2147/JIR.S348079Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[6] Agrawal J, Murthy P, Philip M, Mehrotra S, Thennarasu K, John JP, et al. Socio-demographic correlates of subjective well-being in urban India. Soc Indic Res. 2010;101(3):419–34.10.1007/s11205-010-9669-5Suche in Google Scholar

[7] Ameen SA, Azeez OM, Baba YA, Raji LO, Basiru A, Biobaku KT, et al. Anthelmintic potency of Carica papaya seeds against gastro-intestinal helminths in red Sokoto goat. Ceylon J Sci. 2018;47(2):137–41.10.4038/cjs.v47i2.7509Suche in Google Scholar

[8] Garcia-Bustos JF, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. An appraisal of natural products active against parasitic nematodes of animals. Parasites Vectors. 2019;12:306.10.1186/s13071-019-3537-1Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[9] Hamed MA, Abou El-Naga EH, Youssef NM, El-Sakka SS. Effect of sea cucumbers Holothuria atra extract on hematological parameters and cardio enzymes in rats. J Egypt Acad Soc Environ Dev D Environ Stud. 2017;18(1):11–9.10.21608/jades.2017.62639Suche in Google Scholar

[10] Bordbar S, Anwar F, Saari N. High-value components and bioactives from sea cucumbers for functional foods a review. Mar Drugs. 2011;9(10):1761–805.10.3390/md9101761Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[11] Caulier G, Flammang P, Rakotorisoa P, Gerbaux P, Demeyer M, Eeckhaut I. Preservation of the bioactive saponins of Holothuria scabra through the processing of trepang. Cah Biol Mar. 2013;54(4):685–90.Suche in Google Scholar

[12] Idid SZ, Jalaluddin DM, Ridzwan BH, Bukhori A, Nor Hazlinah S, Hoo CC, et al. Effect of two extracts from Sticopus badionotus Slenka upon induced pleurisity in rat. PJBS. 2001;4:1291–3.10.3923/pjbs.2001.1291.1293Suche in Google Scholar

[13] Mona MH, Omran NE, Mansoor MA, El-Fakharany ZM. Antischistosomal effect of holothurin extracted from some Egyptian sea cucumbers. Pharm Biol. 2012;50(9):1144–50.10.3109/13880209.2012.661741Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[14] El-Sayed YA, Abdel-Moneim AE, Taha RG, Khalil MF, Abdel-Gaber R, Thagfan FA, et al. Holothuria polii extract as a potential anticoccidial agent: Evidence of its MUC2 regulatory impact in Murine Jejunum. Vet Sci. 2024;11(10):490.10.3390/vetsci11100490Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[15] Sharma JN, Al-Omran A, Parvathy SS. Role of nitric oxide in inflammatory diseases. Inflammopharmacology. 2007;15:252–9.10.1007/s10787-007-0013-xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed

[16] Tripathi P, Tripathi P, Kashyap L, Singh V. The role of nitric oxide in inflammatory reactions. FEMS Microbiol Immunol. 2007;51(3):443–52.10.1111/j.1574-695X.2007.00329.xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed

[17] Botta M, Distrutti E, Mencarelli A, Parlato MC, Raffi F, Cipriani S, et al. Anti‐inflammatory activity of a new class of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors that release nitric oxide. Chem Med Chem. 2008;3(10):1580–8.10.1002/cmdc.200800201Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[18] Paul A, Das T, Chowdhury MHU, Majumder M, Khan MM, Emran TB. Anthelmintic activity of pineapple: In silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Res Sq. 2024;1:1–17.10.21203/rs.3.rs-3859053/v1Suche in Google Scholar

[19] Challapa-Mamani MR, Tomás-Alvarado E, Espinoza-Baigorria A, León-Figueroa DA, Sah R, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, et al. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations in related to Leishmania donovani: An update and literature review. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2023;8(10):457.10.3390/tropicalmed8100457Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[20] Morales-Bayuelo A, Vivas-Reyes R, Kaya S. Analyzing a series of ligands against malaria through the application of molecular docking, molecular quantum similarity, and reactivity indices. F1000Research. 2024;13:435.10.12688/f1000research.147631.1Suche in Google Scholar

[21] Purcell SW, Hair CA, Mills DJ. Sea cucumber culture, farming and sea ranching in the tropics: Progress, problems and opportunities. Aquaculture. 2012;368–369:68–81.10.1016/j.aquaculture.2012.08.053Suche in Google Scholar

[22] Dakrory AI, Fahmy SR, Soliman AM, Mohamed AS, Amer SAM. Protective and curative effects of the sea cucumber Holothuria atra extract against DMBA-induced hepatorenal diseases in rats. BioMed Res Int. 2015;2015:1–11.10.1155/2015/563652Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[23] Kanthal LK, Dey A, Satyavathi K, Bhojaraju P. GC-MS analysis of bio-active compounds in methanolic extract of Lactuca runcinata DC. Pharmacogn Res. 2014;6:58–61.10.4103/0974-8490.122919Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[24] Murugamani V, Raju L, Anand Raj VB, Sarma kataki M, Sankar GG. The new method developed for evaluation of anthelmintic activity by housefly worms and compared with conventional earthworm method. ISRN Pharmacol. 2012;2012:709860.10.5402/2012/709860Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[25] Dkhil MA. Anti-coccidial, anthelmintic, and antioxidant activities of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract. Parasitol Res. 2013;12(7):2639–46.10.1007/s00436-013-3430-3Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[26] Drury RA, Wallington EA. Carleton’s histological techniques. 5th edn. New York, USA: Oxford University Press; 1973. p. 1–195.Suche in Google Scholar

[27] Roy B, Tandon V. Usefulness of tetramethylsilane in the preparation of helminth parasites for scanning electron microscopy. Riv Parassitol. 1991;8:207–15.Suche in Google Scholar

[28] Abdel Moneim AE. The neuroprotective effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on rotenone-induced biochemical changes and apoptosis in brain of rat. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2013;12(6):830–41.10.2174/18715273113129990081Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[29] Schrodinger LLC, Schrodinger release 2023-1. LigPrep. 2023.Suche in Google Scholar

[30] Madhavi Sastry G, Adzhigirey M, Day T, Annabhimoju R, Sherman W. Protein and ligand preparation: parameters, protocols, and influence on virtual screening enrichments. J Comput Aided Mol Des. 2013;27:221–34.10.1007/s10822-013-9644-8Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[31] Das DR, Kumar D, Kumar P, Dash BP. Molecular docking and its application in search of antisickling agent from Carica papaya. J Appl Biol Biotechnol. Jan 2020;8(1):105–16.10.7324/JABB.2020.80117Suche in Google Scholar

[32] Venkatesha SH, Acharya B, Moudgil KD. Natural products as source of anti‐inflammatory drugs. Inflamm. 2017;1:1661–90.10.1002/9783527692156.ch65Suche in Google Scholar

[33] Kariya Y, Mulloy B, Imai K, Tominaga A, Kaneko T, Asari A, et al. Isolation and partial characterization of fucan sulfates from the body wall of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus and their ability to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Carbohydr Res. 2004;339(7):1339–46.10.1016/j.carres.2004.02.025Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[34] Rodrigues IA, Mazotto AM, Cardoso V, Alves RL, Amaral ACF, Silva JRA, et al. Natural products: Insights into leishmaniasis inflammatory response. Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015(1):835910.10.1155/2015/835910Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[35] Dkhil MA, Diab MSM, Lokman MS, El-Sayed H, Aljawdah HMA, Al-Quraishy S, et al. Hepato-protective effect of Pleurotus ostreatus extracts in cadmium-intoxicated rats. J King Saud Univ - Sci. 2020;32(8):3432–6.10.1016/j.jksus.2020.09.029Suche in Google Scholar

[36] Calvin BZ, Géorcelin AG, Phillipe BEK, Pascal OA, Laure MFA, Joyce KWJ, et al. The anti-parasitic effect of extract of Ceiba pentandra (L.) gaertner is related to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anthelmintic activities on Haemonchus contortus. J Clin Complement Med Pharmacol. 2023;3(2):100088.10.1016/j.ccmp.2023.100088Suche in Google Scholar

[37] Hamad RS. Rutin, a flavonoid compound derived from garlic, as a potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agent against murine Schistosomiasis mansoni. J Nutr. 2023;15(5):1206.10.3390/nu15051206Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[38] Thorn GW, Adams RD, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, et al. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. New York, USA: McGraw Hill Co; 1987.Suche in Google Scholar

[39] Kumar S, Singh SM, Unit ET. Histopathological changes in two earthworm species after O, O-diethyl S-(ethylthio) methyl phasphoroditl toxicity. Int J Sci. 2017;4(10):1291–3.Suche in Google Scholar

[40] Mottier ML, Alvarez LI, Pis MA, Lanusse CE. Transtegumental diffusion of benzimidazole anthelmintics into Moniezia benedeni: Correlation with their octanol water partition coefficients. Exp Parasitol. 2003;103:1–7.10.1016/S0014-4894(03)00060-2Suche in Google Scholar

[41] Alvarez LI, Mottier ML, Sánchez SF, Lanusse CE. Ex vivo diffusion of albendazole and its sulphoxide metabolite into Ascaris suum and Fasciola hepatica. Parasitol Res. 2001;87:929–34.10.1007/s004360100471Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

[42] Butler MS, Robertson AA, Cooper MA. Natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep. 2014;31:1612–61.10.1039/C4NP00064ASuche in Google Scholar

[43] Subedi L, Gaire BP, Parveen A, Kim SY. Nitric oxide as a target for phytochemicals in anti-neuroinflammatory prevention therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(9):4771.10.3390/ijms22094771Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[44] Soureshjani EH, Babaheydari AK, Saberi E. DNA methyltransferases directed anti-cancerous plant medicine (Xanthomicrol and Galloyl) based molecular docking and dynamics simulation. Comput Mol Biosci. 2015;05(2):13–9.10.4236/cmb.2015.52003Suche in Google Scholar

[45] Tenorio J, Heikal MF, Kafle A, Macalalad M, Orosco FL, Saichua P, et al. Unraveling the mechanisms of benzimidazole resistance in hookworms: A molecular docking and dynamics study. J Genet Eng Biotechnol. 2025;23(1):100472.10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100472Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[46] Suh D, Lee JW, Choi S, Lee Y. Recent applications of deep learning methods on evolution-and contact-based protein structure prediction. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(11):6032.10.3390/ijms22116032Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

[47] Chy MNU, Chakrabarty N, Roy A, Paul A, Emu KA, Dutta T, et al. Antibacterial, anthelmintic, and analgesic activities of Piper sylvaticum (roxb.) leaves and in silico molecular docking and pass prediction studies of its isolated compounds. J Complement Integr Med. 2019;16(4):1–13.10.1515/jcim-2018-0176Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2025-03-25
Revised: 2025-05-23
Accepted: 2025-06-09
Published Online: 2025-07-03

© 2025 the author(s), published by De Gruyter

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Artikel in diesem Heft

  1. Research Articles
  2. Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of antioxidant and antidiabetic activities in aqueous extracts of Cedrus atlantica
  3. Influence of B4C addition on the tribological properties of bronze matrix brake pad materials
  4. Discovery of the bacterial HslV protease activators as lead molecules with novel mode of action
  5. Characterization of volatile flavor compounds of cigar with different aging conditions by headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry
  6. Effective remediation of organic pollutant using Musa acuminata peel extract-assisted iron oxide nanoparticles
  7. Analysis and health risk assessment of toxic elements in traditional herbal tea infusions
  8. Cadmium exposure in marine crabs from Jiaxing City, China: Insights into health risk assessment
  9. Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their biological activities
  10. Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast., Mentha pulegium L., and Thymus zygis L. essential oils: Chemical composition, antioxidant and antifungal properties against postharvest fungal diseases of apple, and in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigation
  11. Exploration of plant alkaloids as potential inhibitors of HIV–CD4 binding: Insight into comprehensive in silico approaches
  12. Recovery of phenylethyl alcohol from aqueous solution by batch adsorption
  13. Electrochemical approach for monitoring the catalytic action of immobilized catalase
  14. Green synthesis of ZIF-8 for selective adsorption of dyes in water purification
  15. Optimization of the conditions for the preparation of povidone iodine using the response surface methodology
  16. A case study on the influence of soil amendment on ginger oil’s physicochemical properties, mineral contents, microbial load, and HPLC determination of its vitamin level
  17. Removal of antiviral favipiravir from wastewater using biochar produced from hazelnut shells
  18. Effect of biochar and soil amendment on bacterial community composition in the root soil and fruit of tomato under greenhouse conditions
  19. Bioremediation of malachite green dye using Sargassum wightii seaweed and its biological and physicochemical characterization
  20. Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
  21. Novel insecticidal properties of bioactive zoochemicals extracted from sea urchin Salmacis virgulata
  22. Elevational gradients shape total phenolic content and bioactive potential of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.): A comparative study across altitudinal zones
  23. Study on the CO2 absorption performance of deep eutectic solvents formed by superbase DBN and weak acid diethylene glycol
  24. Preparation and wastewater treatment performance of zeolite-modified ecological concrete
  25. Multifunctional chitosan nanoparticles: Zn2+ adsorption, antimicrobial activity, and promotion of aquatic health
  26. Comparative analysis of nutritional composition and bioactive properties of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis: Implications for functional foods and dietary supplements
  27. Growth kinetics and mechanical characterization of boride layers formed on Ti6Al4V
  28. Enhancement of water absorption properties of potassium polyacrylate-based hydrogels in CaCl2-rich soils using potassium di- and tri-carboxylate salts
  29. Electrochemical and microbiological effects of dumpsite leachates on soil and air quality
  30. Modeling benzene physicochemical properties using Zagreb upsilon indices
  31. Characterization and ecological risk assessment of toxic metals in mangrove sediments near Langen Village in Tieshan Bay of Beibu Gulf, China
  32. Protective effect of Helicteres isora, an efficient candidate on hepatorenal toxicity and management of diabetes in animal models
  33. Valorization of Juglans regia L. (Walnut) green husk from Jordan: Analysis of fatty acids, phenolics, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities
  34. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations of bioactive terpenes from Catharanthus roseus essential oil targeting breast cancer
  35. Selection of a dam site by using AHP and VIKOR: The Sakarya Basin
  36. Characterization and modeling of kidney bean shell biochar as adsorbent for caffeine removal from aquatic environments
  37. The effects of short-term and long-term 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation on adult rat auditory brainstem response
  38. Biochemical insights into the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory potential of sea cucumber extract: In vitro and in silico approaches
  39. Resveratrol-derived MDM2 inhibitors: Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation against MDM2 and HCT-116 cells
  40. Phytochemical constituents, in vitro antibacterial activity, and computational studies of Sudanese Musa acuminate Colla fruit peel hydro-ethanol extract
  41. Chemical composition of essential oils reviewed from the height of Cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron) plantations in Buru Island and Seram Island, Maluku, Indonesia
  42. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss from the Republic of Chad: in vitro and in silico studies
  43. Stability studies of titanium–carboxylate complexes: A multi-method computational approach
  44. Efficient adsorption performance of an alginate-based dental material for uranium(vi) removal
  45. Synthesis and characterization of the Co(ii), Ni(ii), and Cu(ii) complexes with a 1,2,4-triazine derivative ligand
  46. Evaluation of the impact of music on antioxidant mechanisms and survival in salt-stressed goldfish
  47. Optimization and validation of UPLC method for dapagliflozin and candesartan cilexetil in an on-demand formulation: Analytical quality by design approach
  48. Biomass-based cellulose hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for the efficient sequestration of dyes: Kinetics, response surface methodology optimization, and reusability
  49. Multifunctional nitrogen and boron co-doped carbon dots: A fluorescent probe for Hg2+ and biothiol detection with bioimaging and antifungal applications
  50. Separation of sulphonamides on a C12-diol mixed-mode HPLC column and investigation of their retention mechanism
  51. Characterization and antioxidant activity of pectin from lemon peels
  52. Fast PFAS determination in honey by direct probe electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: A health risk assessment insight
  53. Correlation study between GC–MS analysis of cigarette aroma compounds and sensory evaluation
  54. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies of substituted chromone-2-carboxamide derivatives as anti-breast cancer agents
  55. The influence of feed space velocity and pressure on the cold flow properties of diesel fuel
  56. Acid etching behavior and mechanism in acid solution of iron components in basalt fibers
  57. Protective effect of green synthesized nanoceria on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat
  58. Evaluation of the antianxiety activity of green zinc nanoparticles mediated by Boswellia thurifera in albino mice by following the plus maze and light and dark exploration tests
  59. Yeast as an efficient and eco-friendly bifunctional porogen for biomass-derived nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction
  60. Novel descriptors for the prediction of molecular properties
  61. Special Issue on Advancing Sustainable Chemistry for a Greener Future
  62. One-pot fabrication of highly porous morphology of ferric oxide-ferric oxychloride/poly-O-chloroaniline nanocomposite seeded on poly-1H pyrrole: Photocathode for green hydrogen generation from natural and artificial seawater
  63. High-efficiency photocathode for green hydrogen generation from sanitation water using bismuthyl chloride/poly-o-chlorobenzeneamine nanocomposite
  64. Special Issue on Phytochemicals, Biological and Toxicological Analysis of Plants
  65. Comparative analysis of fruit quality parameters and volatile compounds in commercially grown citrus cultivars
  66. Total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and tannin contents as well as antioxidant and antiparasitic activities of aqueous methanol extract of Alhagi graecorum plant used in traditional medicine: Collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  67. Study on the pharmacological effects and active compounds of Apocynum venetum L.
  68. Chemical profile of Senna italica and Senna velutina seed and their pharmacological properties
  69. Essential oils from Brazilian plants: A literature analysis of anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties and in silico validation
  70. Toxicological effects of green tea catechin extract on rat liver: Delineating safe and harmful doses
https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2025-0179
Schlagwörter für diesen Artikel
Holothuria polii; Allolobophora caliginosa; anthelmintic; cuticle thickness; SEM; molecular docking; NO
Creative Commons
BY 4.0

Artikel in diesem Heft

  1. Research Articles
  2. Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of antioxidant and antidiabetic activities in aqueous extracts of Cedrus atlantica
  3. Influence of B4C addition on the tribological properties of bronze matrix brake pad materials
  4. Discovery of the bacterial HslV protease activators as lead molecules with novel mode of action
  5. Characterization of volatile flavor compounds of cigar with different aging conditions by headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry
  6. Effective remediation of organic pollutant using Musa acuminata peel extract-assisted iron oxide nanoparticles
  7. Analysis and health risk assessment of toxic elements in traditional herbal tea infusions
  8. Cadmium exposure in marine crabs from Jiaxing City, China: Insights into health risk assessment
  9. Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their biological activities
  10. Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast., Mentha pulegium L., and Thymus zygis L. essential oils: Chemical composition, antioxidant and antifungal properties against postharvest fungal diseases of apple, and in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigation
  11. Exploration of plant alkaloids as potential inhibitors of HIV–CD4 binding: Insight into comprehensive in silico approaches
  12. Recovery of phenylethyl alcohol from aqueous solution by batch adsorption
  13. Electrochemical approach for monitoring the catalytic action of immobilized catalase
  14. Green synthesis of ZIF-8 for selective adsorption of dyes in water purification
  15. Optimization of the conditions for the preparation of povidone iodine using the response surface methodology
  16. A case study on the influence of soil amendment on ginger oil’s physicochemical properties, mineral contents, microbial load, and HPLC determination of its vitamin level
  17. Removal of antiviral favipiravir from wastewater using biochar produced from hazelnut shells
  18. Effect of biochar and soil amendment on bacterial community composition in the root soil and fruit of tomato under greenhouse conditions
  19. Bioremediation of malachite green dye using Sargassum wightii seaweed and its biological and physicochemical characterization
  20. Evaluation of natural compounds as folate biosynthesis inhibitors in Mycobacterium leprae using docking, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation
  21. Novel insecticidal properties of bioactive zoochemicals extracted from sea urchin Salmacis virgulata
  22. Elevational gradients shape total phenolic content and bioactive potential of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.): A comparative study across altitudinal zones
  23. Study on the CO2 absorption performance of deep eutectic solvents formed by superbase DBN and weak acid diethylene glycol
  24. Preparation and wastewater treatment performance of zeolite-modified ecological concrete
  25. Multifunctional chitosan nanoparticles: Zn2+ adsorption, antimicrobial activity, and promotion of aquatic health
  26. Comparative analysis of nutritional composition and bioactive properties of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis: Implications for functional foods and dietary supplements
  27. Growth kinetics and mechanical characterization of boride layers formed on Ti6Al4V
  28. Enhancement of water absorption properties of potassium polyacrylate-based hydrogels in CaCl2-rich soils using potassium di- and tri-carboxylate salts
  29. Electrochemical and microbiological effects of dumpsite leachates on soil and air quality
  30. Modeling benzene physicochemical properties using Zagreb upsilon indices
  31. Characterization and ecological risk assessment of toxic metals in mangrove sediments near Langen Village in Tieshan Bay of Beibu Gulf, China
  32. Protective effect of Helicteres isora, an efficient candidate on hepatorenal toxicity and management of diabetes in animal models
  33. Valorization of Juglans regia L. (Walnut) green husk from Jordan: Analysis of fatty acids, phenolics, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities
  34. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations of bioactive terpenes from Catharanthus roseus essential oil targeting breast cancer
  35. Selection of a dam site by using AHP and VIKOR: The Sakarya Basin
  36. Characterization and modeling of kidney bean shell biochar as adsorbent for caffeine removal from aquatic environments
  37. The effects of short-term and long-term 2100 MHz radiofrequency radiation on adult rat auditory brainstem response
  38. Biochemical insights into the anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory potential of sea cucumber extract: In vitro and in silico approaches
  39. Resveratrol-derived MDM2 inhibitors: Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation against MDM2 and HCT-116 cells
  40. Phytochemical constituents, in vitro antibacterial activity, and computational studies of Sudanese Musa acuminate Colla fruit peel hydro-ethanol extract
  41. Chemical composition of essential oils reviewed from the height of Cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron) plantations in Buru Island and Seram Island, Maluku, Indonesia
  42. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss from the Republic of Chad: in vitro and in silico studies
  43. Stability studies of titanium–carboxylate complexes: A multi-method computational approach
  44. Efficient adsorption performance of an alginate-based dental material for uranium(vi) removal
  45. Synthesis and characterization of the Co(ii), Ni(ii), and Cu(ii) complexes with a 1,2,4-triazine derivative ligand
  46. Evaluation of the impact of music on antioxidant mechanisms and survival in salt-stressed goldfish
  47. Optimization and validation of UPLC method for dapagliflozin and candesartan cilexetil in an on-demand formulation: Analytical quality by design approach
  48. Biomass-based cellulose hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for the efficient sequestration of dyes: Kinetics, response surface methodology optimization, and reusability
  49. Multifunctional nitrogen and boron co-doped carbon dots: A fluorescent probe for Hg2+ and biothiol detection with bioimaging and antifungal applications
  50. Separation of sulphonamides on a C12-diol mixed-mode HPLC column and investigation of their retention mechanism
  51. Characterization and antioxidant activity of pectin from lemon peels
  52. Fast PFAS determination in honey by direct probe electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: A health risk assessment insight
  53. Correlation study between GC–MS analysis of cigarette aroma compounds and sensory evaluation
  54. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies of substituted chromone-2-carboxamide derivatives as anti-breast cancer agents
  55. The influence of feed space velocity and pressure on the cold flow properties of diesel fuel
  56. Acid etching behavior and mechanism in acid solution of iron components in basalt fibers
  57. Protective effect of green synthesized nanoceria on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat
  58. Evaluation of the antianxiety activity of green zinc nanoparticles mediated by Boswellia thurifera in albino mice by following the plus maze and light and dark exploration tests
  59. Yeast as an efficient and eco-friendly bifunctional porogen for biomass-derived nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction
  60. Novel descriptors for the prediction of molecular properties
  61. Special Issue on Advancing Sustainable Chemistry for a Greener Future
  62. One-pot fabrication of highly porous morphology of ferric oxide-ferric oxychloride/poly-O-chloroaniline nanocomposite seeded on poly-1H pyrrole: Photocathode for green hydrogen generation from natural and artificial seawater
  63. High-efficiency photocathode for green hydrogen generation from sanitation water using bismuthyl chloride/poly-o-chlorobenzeneamine nanocomposite
  64. Special Issue on Phytochemicals, Biological and Toxicological Analysis of Plants
  65. Comparative analysis of fruit quality parameters and volatile compounds in commercially grown citrus cultivars
  66. Total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and tannin contents as well as antioxidant and antiparasitic activities of aqueous methanol extract of Alhagi graecorum plant used in traditional medicine: Collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  67. Study on the pharmacological effects and active compounds of Apocynum venetum L.
  68. Chemical profile of Senna italica and Senna velutina seed and their pharmacological properties
  69. Essential oils from Brazilian plants: A literature analysis of anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties and in silico validation
  70. Toxicological effects of green tea catechin extract on rat liver: Delineating safe and harmful doses
Jetzt anmelden und 20% sparen
Institutioneller Zugang
Wie funktioniert Authentifizierung?
Haben Sie eine Idee, wie wir unsere Website verbessern können?
Bitte schreiben Sie uns.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Heruntergeladen am 29.9.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/chem-2025-0179/html
Button zum nach oben scrollen