Metabolite profiling of Cucurbita pepo L. in relation to its potential to combat experimental trichinosis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate Cucurbita pepo L. (C. pepo) seed extract against Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) through in vivo study for both intestinal and muscular phases. Additionally, an extensive metabolic profiling, for all parts of the fruit of Cucurbita pepo L. (seed, peel and flesh), was adopted using UPLC/ESI-qTOF-MS to reveal the phytoconstituents responsible for the biological activities.

Regarding the anthelmintic evaluation of the extracts of C. pepo, the count of T. spiralis adult worm was significantly reduced in the group of mice treated early with C. pepo seed extract (CPSE) and albendazole (ABZ) as compared to the control infected non-treated group. Similarly, the total larval count was significantly reduced in groups treated with CPSE and ABZ with more reduction in the groups that received the treatment in the early phase of infection. Upon staining intestinal sections of the infected mice with haematoxylin and eosin, the analysis revealed the improvement of the inflammatory manifestation induced by the parasite upon treatment with CPSE in both the intestinal and muscular phases. UPLC/ESI-qTOF-MS technique enabled the identification and comprehensive profiling of 79 secondary metabolites, which belonged to various classes of compounds including flavonoids, phenolics, cucurbitacins and fatty acids, in addition to other minor classes.

The current study suggests C. pepo seed extract as a promising candidate for management of the gastrointestinal parasites being enriched with bioactive phytoconstituents.