Soil nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansMaupas as a convenient model organism to study anthelmintic activity of plant extracts

Abstract

The article deals with the study of the possibility to use free-living soil nematodeC. elegansin researches of anthelmintic activity of plant raw material.A. sativumjuice and aqueous extract ofT. vulgareflowers were used in experiments. It is shown that bothA. sativumjuice and tansy flowers extract caused dose-dependent disturbances ofC. elegansswimming motor program. These disturbances are similar with disturbances caused by agonist of cholinoreceptors levamisole. Therefore, the target ofA. sativumjuice andT. vulgareextract action isC. eleganscholinergic system. The mechanism of toxic action ofA. sativumandT. vulgareonC. elegansorganism consists in hyperactivation of nicotinic cholinoreceptors. The possibility of quick adaptation ofC. elegansnicotinic cholinoreceptors to active components of tansy flowers extract was revealed. Soil nematodeC. elegansmay be used for investigation of anthelmintic activity ofA. sativumandT. vulgarefor the purpose of identification of secondary metabolites responsible for the toxic action on helminths.