Evaluation of Antileishmanial Activity of Selected Brazilian Plants and Identification of the Active Principles

Valdir Cechinel Filho,Christiane Meyre-Silva,Efrain Salamanca,Luisa Nathália Bolda Mariano,Fabiana Gomes Do Nascimento,Bruna Dos Santos Silva,Rivaldo Niero,Ingrid Vicente Farias,Vanessa Fátima Gazoni,Angela Malheiros,David Gutierrez-Yapu,Alberto Giménez

doi:10.1155/2013/265025

Abstract

This study evaluated extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from some selected Brazilian medicinal plants against strains of promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and L. brasiliensis in vitro. The cell viability was determined, comparing the results with reference standards. The dichloromethane fractions of the roots, stems, and leaves of Allamanda schottii showed IC50 values between 14.0 and 2.0 μg/mL. Plumericin was the main active compound, with IC50 of 0.3 and 0.04 μg/mL against the two species of Leishmania analyzed. The hexane extract of Eugenia umbelliflora fruits showed IC50 of 14.3 and 5.7 μg/mL against L. amazonensis and L. brasiliensis, respectively. The methanolic extracts of the seeds of Garcinia achachairu and guttiferone A presented IC50 values of 35.9 and 10.4 μg/mL, against L. amazonensis, respectively. The ethanolic extracts of the stem barks of Rapanea ferruginea and the isolated compound, myrsinoic acid B, presented activity against L. brasiliensis with IC50 of 24.1 and 6.1 μg/mL. Chloroform fraction of Solanum sisymbriifolium exhibited IC50 of 33.8 and 20.5 μg/mL, and cilistol A was the main active principle, with IC50 of 6.6 and 3.1 μg/mL against L. amazonensis and L. brasiliensis, respectively. It is concluded that the analyzed plants are promising as new and effective antiparasitic agents.

Highlights

Leishmania are protozoan parasites responsible for a spectrum of diseases known as leishmaniasis
The best results were obtained from the root extracts with IC50 of 43.8 μg/mL for L. amazonensis and 8.5 μg/mL for L. brasiliensis
The best activity was observed in the dichloromethane fraction of the roots with IC50 of 2.1 μg/mL for L. amazonensis and 8.8 μg/mL for L. brasiliensis, suggesting that the iridoid plumericin and the triterpene ursolic acid are the main active principles

Summary

Introduction

Leishmania are protozoan parasites responsible for a spectrum of diseases known as leishmaniasis. There are two main forms of leishmaniasis: cutaneous, characterized by skin sores; and visceral, which affects the internal organs (e.g., the spleen, liver, and bone marrow). This disease is classified as a neglected disease and is one of major public health problem, causing significant morbidity and mortality in various countries. The higher plants are a very rich source of new and selective substances, with therapeutic potential against these ailments. The World Health Organization advocates the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of these tropical diseases [4,5,6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion