Abstract:
In this study, we took an interest in the evaluation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of Helix aspersa snail homogenate. In order to reach our goals, three principal stages were undertaken:
* Submission of rats at a high L-Methionine diet (400mg/kg of the weight of the rat/day) in order to induce an oxidative stress.
* Treatment of rats by Helix aspersa snail homogenate (100mg/kg of the weight of the rat/day) associated with a high dose of the L-Methionine.
* Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Helix aspersa snail crude organic extracts against three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603,Pseudomonas aeruginosa 13), twoo fungal strains (Aspergillus fumigatus CIP 1082.74,Trichophytum rubrum CIP 2043.92) and one strain of yeast (Candida albicans UMIP 88465) by the use of paper disk assay method.
The results of MDA and total protein mixtures showed that:
* On one hand, an increase of hepatic MD (p≤0,001) and plasmatic total protein levels (p≤0,0001) on rats that receiving a high dose of the L-Methionine, explaining thus theproceedings of lipid peroxidation phenomenons and the cellular proteins oxidation.
* On the other hand, a decrease of the levels of plasmatic (p≤0,0001) and hepatic MDA (p≤0,001), and plasmatic total proteins (p≤0,0001) following treatment of hyperhomocysteinemic rats with the snails homogenate. This allowed us to conclude that the Helix aspersa snail homogenate has antioxidant properties.
The microbiological test revealed an antibacterial activity of snails crude organic extracts prepared with distilled water.
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was revealed as the most sensitive of the three test-bacteria.
No anti fungal activity was determined.
The preliminary characterization of antibacterial molecules of Helix aspersa snail crude organic extracts allowed us to conclude that they can probably have protein linked and/or free nature.
