Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40490809›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2025

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy of beta, beta-dimethylacrylshikonin and isobutyrylshikonin in vitro and in vivo.

Hai-Ting Guo, Lu Wang, Bintao Zhai, Shi-Chen Xie, Wen-Bin Zheng, Xing-Quan Zhu, Zhong-Yuan Li

Abstract read
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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hai-Ting GuoLaboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
Lu WangLaboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
Bintao ZhaiKey Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.
Shi-Chen XieLaboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
Wen-Bin ZhengLaboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. wenbinzheng1@126.com.
Xing-Quan ZhuLaboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong, 030801, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. xingquanzhu1@hotmail.com.
Zhong-Yuan LiGuangxi Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. lizhongyuan@glmc.edu.cn.

Funding

the Basic Ability Improvement Project for Guangxi Young- and Middle-Aged Teacher Research in University 2025KY0536the Fourth Phase Training Program of Guangxi One Thousand Young- and Middle-Aged Core Teachers in University 2020-58the Natural Science Fund of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 2025GXNSFHA069261the Research Fund of Shanxi Province for Introduced High-level Leading Talents RFSXIHLT202101the Research Project for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangxi GXJKKJ24C009the Special Research Fund of Shanxi Agricultural University for High-level Talents 2021XG001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundToxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasite that can infect almost all vertebrate species including humans, causing variable clinical symptoms from asymptomatic infection to serious diseases. Though extensive research has been done in recent decades, the prevention and control of T. gondii continue to present substantial challenges. Herbal medicines have long been a rich source of chemical entities and may provide new avenues for drug discovery against T. gondii. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the anti-T. gondii effect of two monomers, beta, beta-dimethylacrylshikonin (DMAS) and isobutyrylshikonin (IBS), extracted from the roots of a widely distributed and used medical plant.

methodsThe cytotoxicity of DMAS and IBS on Vero cells was evaluated using the MTT assay, and the toxicity in mice was assessed on the basis of the changes of body weight combined with the histopathologic examinations on spleen, liver, and kidney. The effects of DMAS and IBS on mice against T. gondii acute infection were evaluated by combining survival curves with splenic histopathologic examination. Ultrastructural change in T. gondii tachyzoites post co-incubation in vitro was observed by electron microscopy. ACT1-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to quantify T. gondii tachyzoites, including proliferation and the inhibitory efficacy of DMAS and IBS. Invasion and attachment, intracellular proliferation, and parasitophorous vacuole viability evaluations were conducted to assess the effects on the asexual life cycle of T. gondii. In addition, untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed to clarify the underlying mechanisms by which DMAS and IBS act against this parasite.

resultsBoth DMAS and IBS, with higher half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC

conclusionsThis study demonstrated that DMAS and IBS have an inhibitory effect on T. gondii infection in vitro and in vivo, probably associated with the disruption of nucleotide metabolism in the parasite. These results highlight that the two monomers, in particular DMAS, hold promise as a potential therapeutic medicine for toxoplasmosis.

Indexed as

Antiprotozoal AgentsToxoplasmaToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis, AnimalAnimalsChlorocebus aethiopsFemaleMicePlant ExtractsSpleenVero CellsAntiprotozoal AgentsPlant ExtractsAnti-infectionBeta, beta-dimethylacrylshikoninIsobutyrylshikoninMetabolomicsToxoplasma gondii

Identifiers

PMID40490809
PMCPMC12150545

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.