Unlocking the potential of halophyte plants from extreme maritime environments as sources of innovative products for use in veterinary parasitology

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Disclosing the bioactive metabolites involved in the in vitro anthelmintic effects of salt-tolerant plants through a combined approach using PVPP and HPLC-ESI-MSn

Publication . Oliveira, Marta; Lima, Caroline Sprengel; Ketavong, Setha; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Hoste, Hervé; Custódio, Luísa

Strategies to reduce dependence on synthetic drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infections in ruminants include the search for novel anthelmintic scafolds on plants, yet salt-tolerant plants remain overlooked. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic properties of selected salt-tolerant plants against GIN, and identify the potential bioactive secondary metabolites involved. For that purpose, 80% acetone/water extracts were prepared from dried biomass of aerial organs of nine salt-tolerant plant species and tested against Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis by the Larval Exsheathment Inhibition Assay (LEIA) and Egg Hatching Inhibition Assay (EHIA). Pistacia lentiscus, Limoniatrum monopetalum, Cladium mariscus and Helychrisum italicum picardi were the most active in both GIN and life stages. To investigate the role of polyphenols in the anthelmintic activity, four selected extracts were treated with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), and non-treated and treated samples were further characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn). While polyphenols seem responsible for the EHIA properties, they are partially accountable to LEIA results. Several phenolics involved in the anthelmintic efects were identifed and discussed. In sum, these species are rich sources of anthelmintic compounds and, therefore, are of major interest for nutraceutical and/or phytotherapeutic applications against GIN in ruminants.

2021-12Journal article

Open access

Impact of seasonal and Organ-Related Fluctuations on the anthelmintic properties and chemical profile of Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl Extracts

Publication . Oliveira, Marta; Lima, Caroline Sprengel; Llorent-Martínez, Eulogio J.; Hoste, Hervé; Custódio, Luísa

The use of plants and their metabolites stands as a promising option to tackle parasitic infections by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in integrated control strategies. Still, the influence of environmental and phenological factors, and their interactions, in the wild on the metabolomics and biological properties of target plant species, is often disregarded. In this work, we hypothesized that variations in the anthelmintic (AH) properties and chemical composition of extracts from the salt tolerant species Cladium mariscus L. Pohl (sawgrass) may be influenced by seasonal factors and organ-parts. To test this hypothesis, acetone/water extracts were prepared from dried biomass obtained from aerial organs collected from sawgrass in consecutive seasons and tested against Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis by the larval exsheathment inhibition assay (LEIA) and egg hatching inhibition assay (EHIA). To ascertain the role of plant organ, the activity of leaves and inflorescences extracts from summer samples was compared. The role of polyphenols in the anthelmintic activity depending on GINs and fluctuations across seasons and plant organs was assessed using polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), coupled with an in-depth chemical profiling analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography completed with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn). Main differences in anthelmintic activities were observed for summer and autumn samples, for both assays. Moreover, inflorescences' extracts were significantly more active than those from leaves against both parasite species on EHIA and against H. contortus on LEIA. Application of PVPP totally inhibit the AH effects based on EHIA and only partly for LEIA. Non-treated PVPP extracts were predominantly composed of flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, luteolin and glycosylated flavonoids, while two flavonoid glycosides were quantified in all PVPP-treated samples. Thus, the activity of such compounds should be further explored, although some unknown metabolites remain to be identified. This study reinforces the hypothesis of the AH potential of sawgrass and of its polyphenolic metabolites uses as nutraceutical and/or phytotherapeutic drugs.

2022Journal article

Open access

A systematic review on the ethnoveterinary uses of mediterranean salt-tolerant plants: Exploring its potential use as fodder, nutraceuticals or phytotherapeutics in ruminant production

Publication . Oliveira, Marta; Hoste, Herve; Custódio, Luísa

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Salt-tolerant plants are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the Mediterranean region, where have been used traditionally as food and medicines for human and animals. In addition, various species are currently recognized as sources of metabolites with pharmacological, cosmetical and nutraceutical interest. Nevertheless, ethnoveterinary data on salt-tolerant plants are dispersed in the literature and there are few discussions on its veterinary potential. Having in mind the rising interest on organic farming, alternatives to chemical substances in livestock production and concern for animal health and welfare practices, these plants may represent an untapped resource for animal management and veterinary purposes. In this sense, the purpose of this work is to summarize the ethnoveterinary knowledge on salt-tolerant plants described in the Mediterranean region, raising awareness to the potential of this group of plants to be used in veterinary science, targeting especially ruminants. Material and methods: Literature search (2000-2020) was conducted using Web of Science and Science Direct databases. Ethnoveterinary reports (EVR) concerning salt-tolerant plants were summarized and filtered for ruminants. From the final 29 publications, EVR concerning therapeutic uses were categorized according to its ATCvet code and results analyzed. Results: A total of 221 EVR were identified from 39 plants, belonging to 21 plant families, targetting ruminants. Ten EVR (4.5%) concerned uses of salt-tolerant species as animal feed, while around 75% of therapeutic uses was represented by three categories: alimentary tract and metabolism (QA; n = 75), dermatologicals (QD; n = 53) and genitourinary system and sex hormones (QG; n = 41). Pistacia lentiscus L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter, Plantago major L. and Hordeum vulgare L. were the most cited species in the latter categories. Conclusions: The ethnoveterinary knowledge on salt-tolerant species hints some plants of veterinary pharmacological potential, but other species deserve further notice. This information should serve as a basis and, coupled with the currently available scientific data on bioactive properties and chemical composition of salt-tolerant species, inspire additional research on the exploitation of this botanical group, as sources of novel products for ruminant nutrition, health and quality of its products.

2021-03Review

Restricted access

Unlocking the potential of extremophile plants from maritime environments as sources of innovative products for use in veterinary sciences

Publication . Oliveira, Marta Margarida de Figueiredo; Custódio, Luísa; Hoste, Hervé; Barreira, Luísa

Mediterranean salt-tolerant plants, adapted to challenging conditions, are underlooked as sustainable anthelmintic solutions for ruminants, offering potential for livestock management, particularly in areas where saline or degraded soils restrict traditional agricultural productivity. With this in mind, the main goal of this dissertation is to valorize Mediterranean salt-tolerant plant species for the management of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in ruminants, either as nutraceutical plants or phytotherapeutic options. Target species were Pistacia lentiscus L., Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco, Inula crithmoides L., Calystegia soldanela (L.) R.Br., Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl, Medicago marina L., Plantago coronopus L., Limoniastrum monopetalum L. Boiss, and Crucianella marítima L.. Chemical analyses disclose that these species are rich in minerals and phenolics, valued for their antioxidant properties, making them promising for nutraceutical and phytotherapeutic applications. Exploring seasonal variations allowed the selection of samples with the highest phenolic content and antioxidant properties, ensuring prioritization in the phytotherapeutic pipeline. In vitro anthelmintic assays revealed that 80% acetone extracts of P. lentiscus, H. italicum picardii, C. mariscus, and L. monopetalum were highly effective against egg hatching and larval exsheathment of the clinically relevant gastrointestinal nematodes Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. After, a PVPP-HPLC-ESI MSn approach identified potential bioactive metabolites contributing to the activity of each species. For C. mariscus, seasonal variations allied to organ occurrence, and despite anthelmintic effects were observed year-round, inflorescences exhibited the strongest activity against egg hatching. In vivo trials showed that a single oral dose of C. mariscus and L. monopetalum extracts in GIN-infected lambs had no significant effect on parasitological status but led to slight improvements in hematological parameters. In the end, this dissertation provided new insights into the biochemical potential of salt-tolerant species targeting GIN infections in ruminants, highlighting their applications in this scope and opening novel avenues for innovative anthelmintic solutions in ruminant production.

2025-05-15Doctoral thesis

Open access

Seasonal biochemical variations in mediterranean halophytes and salt-tolerant plants: targeting sustainable innovations in ruminant health

Publication . Oliveira, Marta; Guerreiro Pereira, Catarina Alexandra; Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Rodrigues, Maria João; Neng, Nuno R.; Hoste, Hervé; Hamed, Karim Ben; Custódio, Luísa

Climate change intensifies water scarcity and soil salinization, threatening agriculture and livestock systems, especially in arid Mediterranean regions. Halophytes and salt-tolerant plants offer sustainable alternatives to support ruminant health and productivity where traditional crops fail, helping mitigate climate impacts. This work evaluated seasonality effects on the biochemical properties, including proximate composition, minerals, antioxidant properties, and the phenolic composition of the aerial organs of halophytes and salt-tolerant species, aiming at their future exploitation in ruminant production as novel nutraceutical or phytotherapeutic products. Target species included four halophytic species according to the eHaloph database (Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br. 1810, Medicago marina L. 1753, Plantago coronopus L. 1753, and Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. 1848) and five salt-tolerant plants (Pistacia lentiscus L. 1753, Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl 1809, Inula crithmoides L. (syn. Limbarda crithmoides Dumort. 1827), Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco 1984, and Crucianella maritima L. 1753). H. italicum, M. marina, and C. soldanella appear well-suited for nutraceutical applications, while P. lentiscus, L. monopetalum, and C. mariscus hold promise for the development of, for example, phytotherapeutic products. This research underscores the significance of seasonal and species-specific variations in nutrient and phytochemical composition, displaying a range of opportunities for novel, sustainable, and tailored solutions to ruminant production systems in arid environments.

2025-07-08Journal article

Open access