AUTHOR=Bonde Charlotte Smith , Bornancin Louis , Lu Yi , Simonsen Henrik Toft , Martínez-Valladares María , Peña-Espinoza Miguel , Mejer Helena , Williams Andrew R. , Thamsborg Stig Milan 

TITLE=Bio-Guided Fractionation and Molecular Networking Reveal Fatty Acids to Be Principal Anti-Parasitic Compounds in Nordic Seaweeds

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.674520

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.674520

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs has led to high levels of drug-resistance in pathogen populations and a need for novel sources of anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic compounds. Macroalgae (seaweed) are potentially a rich source of bioactive compounds, and several species have traditionally been used as vermifuges. Here, we investigated the anti-parasitic properties of four common cold-water Nordic seaweeds; <italic>Palmaria palmata</italic> (Rhodophyta), <italic>Laminaria digitata</italic>, <italic>Saccharina latissima</italic> and <italic>Ascophyllum nodosum</italic> (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). Screening of organic extracts against helminths of swine (<italic>Ascaris suum</italic>) and sheep (<italic>Teladorsagia circumcincta</italic>) revealed that <italic>S. latissima</italic> and <italic>L. digitata</italic> had particularly high biological activity. A combination of molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation led to the isolation of six compounds from extracts of these two species identified in both fermented and non-fermented samples. The six isolated compounds were tentatively identified by using MS-FINDER as five fatty acids and one monoglyceride: Stearidonic acid (<bold>1</bold>), Eicosapentaenoic acid (<bold>2</bold>), Alpha-Linolenic acid (<bold>3</bold>), Docosahexaenoic acid (<bold>4</bold>), Arachidonic acid (<bold>5</bold>), and Monoacylglycerol (MG 20:5) (<bold>6</bold>). Individual compounds showed only modest activity against <italic>A. suum</italic>, but a clear synergistic effect was apparent when selected compounds were tested in combination. Collectively, our data reveal that fatty acids may have a previously unappreciated role as natural anti-parasitic compounds, which suggests that seaweed products may represent a viable option for control of intestinal helminth infections.</p>