Abstract
Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (Rutaceae) has been traditionally used in the treatment of microbial infections and parasitic diseases. In the present study, the antileishmanial effect induced by the ethanol extract of stem barks from Z. rhoifolium (ZR-EEtOH) and its n-hexane fraction (ZR-FHEX) on infection and infectivity of murine macrophages by promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis were investigated. In different set of experiments, macrophages or promastigotes were pretreated with ZR-EEtOH or ZR-FHEX at non-lethal concentrations for 24 hours, and then macrophages were submitted to infection by promastigotes. Moreover, their effects on activation of macrophages, as well as on the DNA content, size and number of promastigotes by flow cytometry were also evaluated. The infection rate and the number of internalized amastigote forms were markedly decreased after pretreatment of macrophages or promastigotes when compared with non-treated cells. The increase in phagocytic capability and nitrite content was also observed. Furthermore, the decrease of DNA content, size and number of promastigotes was also observed. In conclusion, ZR-EEtOH and ZR-FHEX promoted a markedly significant antileishmanial effect and reduction of infection of macrophages, probably underlying defense mechanisms activation in macrophages. These findings reinforce the potential application of Z. rhoifolium in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Highlights
The leishmaniasis is a complex of diseases caused by digenetic protozoa from Leishmania genus which affects around two million people per yearAn Acad Bras Cienc (2016) 88 (3 Suppl.)higher toxicity, high costs, long-lasting therapy and therapeutic spectrum restricted to only specific clinical forms of the disease (Chappuis et al 2007, Lindoso et al 2012).Traditionally, medicinal plants have been widely used in traditional medical practices to treat parasitic diseases and currently have received special attention concerning the search for new therapies against leishmaniasis
Higher toxicity, high costs, long-lasting therapy and therapeutic spectrum restricted to only specific clinical forms of the disease (Chappuis et al 2007, Lindoso et al 2012).Traditionally, medicinal plants have been widely used in traditional medical practices to treat parasitic diseases and currently have received special attention concerning the search for new therapies against leishmaniasis
The major finding of this study is the ethanol extract of stem barks from Z. rhoifolium (ZR-EEtOH) and its n-hexane fraction (ZR-FHEX) presented an effective inhibitory effect of infection of macrophages by L. amazonensis
Summary
The leishmaniasis is a complex of diseases caused by digenetic protozoa from Leishmania genus which affects around two million people per yearAn Acad Bras Cienc (2016) 88 (3 Suppl.)higher toxicity, high costs, long-lasting therapy and therapeutic spectrum restricted to only specific clinical forms of the disease (Chappuis et al 2007, Lindoso et al 2012).Traditionally, medicinal plants have been widely used in traditional medical practices to treat parasitic diseases and currently have received special attention concerning the search for new therapies against leishmaniasis. Effect of Z. rhoifolium on Infection by L. amazonensis Promastigotes after Pretreatment of Macrophages Promastigote forms of L. amazonensis at logarithmic growth phase (1×105) were pretreated with ZR-EEtOH or ZR-FHEX at concentrations of 7.96, 15.92 and 31.84 μg/mL for 72h.
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