Anti-Cryptosporidium efficacy and metabolite profiling of Schefflera arboricola L. leaves extract.

BACKGROUND

Schefflera arboricola L., (S. arboricola L) is a member of the Araliaceae family and exhibits various biological activities. Cryptosporidium parvum, a zoonotic protozoan infection, can infect a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, including humans.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the phytochemical constituents and efficacy of S. arboricola leaf extracts against C. parvum infection.

METHODS

The assessment of chlorophyll, carotenoid, carbohydrate, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents in the leaves of S. arboricola was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and UPLC/ESI-MS. Parasitological, histological, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, liver functions, lipid profiles, and antioxidant parameter analysis will be used to assess the efficacy of the treatments after oral infection with C. parvum oocytes (2 × 103/mouse). Fifty adult male mice were divided into five groups (10 each): non-treated Cryptosporidium-infected group (G1), infected and treated with low-dose S. arboricola extract (100 mg/kg) (G2), infected and treated with high-dose S. arboricola extract (200 mg/kg) (G3), Nitazoxanide treated (150 mg/kg) (G4), and non-infected group (G5).

RESULTS

This study quantified the total phenolic and flavonoid contents 267.54 ± 0.61 mg GAE/g and 514.89 ± 0.20 mg rutin/g, respectively, and identified 51 compounds, including 14 phenolic acids and their derivatives, 30 flavonoids, 6 coumarins, and 1 anthocyanin. Both infected-treated mice groups (G2 & G3) showed a considerable improvement in Cryptosporidium oocyte shedding, with significant effectiveness (p < 0.05). In addition, the infected-treated groups showed less severe changes in the intestinal epithelium structures and a significant decrease in DNA fragmentation, hepatic biomarkers, and lipid indices compared with the infected non-treated control group.

CONCLUSION

Schefflera arboricola leaves contain a wide variety of pigments, carotenoid, carbohydrate, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds. Extracts of S. arboricola leaves are a new interesting prospective natural product that may be used in the treatment of Cryptosporidium infection.