Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 20, 2026 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
Medical News: A natural plant compound found in fruits, vegetables, tea leaves, and herbs could become a powerful new weapon against the dangerous parasite Toxoplasma gondii, according to a new study by researchers from Yangzhou University and the Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences in China.
Scientists discover that myricetin, a natural plant flavonoid, can cripple the deadly toxoplasma parasite
and improve survival in infected mice
The parasite causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that infects nearly one-third of the global population. While many healthy people show few symptoms, the infection can become life-threatening in pregnant women, cancer patients, transplant recipients, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Scientists discovered that a natural flavonoid called myricetin was able to strongly slow parasite growth, damage its ability to reproduce, and even improve survival in infected mice.
Why Toxoplasmosis Is So Dangerous
Toxoplasma gondii is a microscopic parasite that can spread through contaminated food, undercooked meat, soil, or cat feces. Once inside the body, it can hide in tissues such as the brain and muscles for years. Existing drugs often cause severe side effects and usually fail to eliminate the dormant cysts responsible for chronic infection.
The research team explained that current treatments mainly target the parasite’s folate pathway, but these medicines are limited by toxicity and poor effectiveness against long-term infection. Because of this, scientists have been searching for safer and more effective drug targets.
Plant Compound Targets Parasite’s “Fuel Factory”
The researchers focused on an important parasite enzyme called TgDHO, which helps the parasite produce pyrimidines. These molecules are essential building blocks for DNA and RNA, meaning the parasite cannot grow or divide without them.
Myricetin was found to strongly block this enzyme. When the enzyme was disrupted, the parasite struggled to reproduce normally. Scientists also discovered that adding uracil, another biological molecule, could partly reverse the damage, confirming that myricetin was specifically interfering with the parasite’s nucleotide production system.
In laboratory experiments, the parasite lost its ability to form healthy plaques and reproduce efficiently inside cells after treatment with myricetin. Importantly, the compound mainly affected parasite replication rather than invasion, meaning it stopped the parasite from multiplying after infection had already begun.
Researchers also observed severe abnormalities in parasite division. Many parasites became stuck in an early stage of the cell cycle before budding could occur. Others developed distorted shapes, enlarged structures, unequal offspring formation, and defective internal organization.
This
Medical News report highlights that the compound appeared to disrupt the par
asite’s internal DNA production process, essentially starving it of the materials needed to continue reproducing.
Brain Cysts Also Became Abnormal
One of the most important discoveries involved the parasite’s cyst form. Chronic toxoplasmosis occurs when the parasite forms protective cysts in the brain and other tissues, allowing it to survive for years.
The researchers found that myricetin interfered with the cyst wall’s glycosylation process, which is crucial for maintaining cyst integrity and helping the parasite evade the immune system. The treated parasites showed abnormal cyst development and impaired growth of bradyzoites, the dormant parasite form responsible for chronic infection.
Although the overall number of brain cysts in mice was not dramatically reduced, many cysts became misshapen and structurally abnormal after treatment. Scientists believe this could weaken the parasite’s long-term survival ability.
Remarkable Survival Benefit in Mice
Perhaps the most striking finding came from the animal experiments. Mice infected with a deadly strain of Toxoplasma gondii were treated with myricetin. The treatment achieved an 80 percent survival rate, while untreated mice rapidly died from infection. In addition, treated mice gradually regained body weight during recovery.
The researchers also tested another compound called plumbagin, but it showed high toxicity and failed to improve survival.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that myricetin may represent a promising new direction in the fight against toxoplasmosis. By targeting the parasite’s pyrimidine production system, the compound disrupts multiple stages of parasite survival, including replication, cell division, and cyst development. Scientists believe this multi-target effect could make it harder for the parasite to adapt or develop resistance.
However, researchers cautioned that myricetin is not yet ready for clinical use. The compound still showed some toxicity, and its selectivity needs improvement before human trials can be considered. Future studies will likely focus on developing safer and more powerful versions of the compound that can specifically target the parasite while minimizing side effects in healthy cells.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Cells.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/10/908
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Medical Disclaimer: All content published by Thailand Medical News is based on scientific research and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers must not attempt to use, apply, or experiment with any protocols, compounds, or therapies mentioned without first consulting a qualified and licensed medical doctor. Many findings discussed are experimental or preliminary, and only a licensed healthcare professional can determine what is safe and appropriate for an individual’s specific medical condition.
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