Properties of Compounds Citral and Geraniol on Trichomonas gallinae: Activity in Vitro and Cytotoxicity

Background: Avian trichomoniasis is an important disease that causes bird mortality, both wild and captive, around the world. This study evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and antiparasitic activity of citral (3.7-Dimetil-2.6-octadienal) and geraniol (trans-3.7-Dimetil-2.6-octadien-1-ol) against Trichomonas gallinae trophozoites.

Methods: In vitro assays were conducted at the Laboratory of Protozoology and Entomology (LAPEN) at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Brazil in 2019 using tests with 10⁶ parasites and citral and geraniol at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 μM and four controls: NC (culture medium and trophozoites), MTZ (trophozoites plus 100 μM of metronidazole), and TW (trophozoites plus vehicles used for solubilizing derivatives (0.01% Tween).

Results: The citral (60 μM) and geraniol (50 μM) concentrations reduced the trophozoites's viability by 100%. The molecular docking experiment demonstrated that citral and geraniol might inhibit a hydrogen enzyme for T. gallinae survival.

Conclusion: The major compounds of lemongrass have potential antitrichomonal activity against T. gallinae in vitro.