Evidence mapPaperPMID 41379884Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

The phytochemical arbutin exerts potent anti-Toxoplasma effects through activation of cell-autonomous defense mechanisms while attenuating inflammation.

Zhuanzhuan Liu, Yulu Ma, Yaoyao Xiang, Yusi Shen, Longxiang Liao, Xiuwen Zhu, Zhen Shi, Yanxia Wei, Yanbo Kou, Yugang Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Zhuanzhuan LiuJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9453-9714
Yulu MaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Yaoyao XiangJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Yusi ShenJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Longxiang LiaoJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Xiuwen ZhuJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Zhen ShiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Yanxia WeiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Yanbo KouJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Yugang WangJiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlant-derived natural products have emerged as promising candidates for developing novel anti-toxoplasmosis drugs. This study aimed to elucidate the role and mechanism of the phytochemical arbutin in the control of T. gondii infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL

findingsThe effect of arbutin on T. gondii infection and host inflammatory response was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq was performed on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage samples to identify potential arbutin-related biological processes and molecular targets that control T. gondii infection. These targets were further confirmed using target-specific activators or inhibitors. Our data indicated that arbutin has dual therapeutic effects against T. gondii infection through concurrently controlling parasite growth and mitigating infection-induced inflammation. Mechanistically, arbutin mediates restriction of intracellular labile iron pool in both immune and non-immune cells, thereby depriving the parasite of essential metal nutrients. In addition, in macrophages, arbutin not only inhibits infection-induced inflammatory response but also upregulates the expression of heme degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1, which facilitates biliverdin production. Our data further demonstrated that biliverdin exhibits anti-T. gondii effector function. Furthermore, arbutin is also effective in reducing infection-related mortality in immunocompromised mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data highlight arbutin's potential therapeutic value in fighting against acute hyperinflammatory phase of Toxoplasmosis even in immunocompromised host but also its limitation in establishing long-term immunity. Our study further suggests a potential direction for further development of effective drugs to prevent and treat toxoplasmosis by pharmacologically enhancing cell-autonomous defense mechanisms while suppressing inflammatory response.

Indexed as

Antiprotozoal AgentsArbutinInflammationPhytochemicalsToxoplasmaToxoplasmosisAnimalsFemaleHeme Oxygenase-1MacrophagesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLAntiprotozoal AgentsArbutinHeme Oxygenase-1Phytochemicals

Identifiers

PMID41379884
PMCPMC12711086

What Socratic holds

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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 Socratic graph.