[Effect of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel saponins against juvenile and adult Schistosoma japonicum in vitro].

Objective: To explore the effect of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel saponins (PRS) against juvenile and adult Schistosoma japonicum and to compare its efficacy with praziquantel (PZQ) in vitro.

Methods: 3 h, 7 d, 14 d schistosomula and 42 d adult schistosomes were incubated with 0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 microg/ml PRS for 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours, then the states of them were observed. The changes of the surface of S. japonicum incubated with 30 microg/ml PRS and PZQ within 4 hours were observed by a scanning electron microscope.

Results: The sensitivity of 3 h, 7 d, 14 d schistosomula and adults of S. japonicum to 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 microg/ml PRS displayed a time and dose dependence. All the worms died in 30 microg/ml PRS after 4 hours. The dead worm body appeared a gray-white color accompanied with their altered morphogenesis and opaque body. The tegumental surface of adults with different degrees of damages was observed by the electron microscope within 4 hours affected by PRS in vitro.

Conclusions: The effects of PRS against S. japonicum in different developmental stages in vitro show that PRS may eventually have a therapeutic potential in the treatment or prevention of S. japonicum infection and is expected to become a new anti-schistosome drug.