Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid
Leishmaniasis is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the infectious parasitic diseases endemic of great relevance and a global public health problem. Pentavalent antimonials used for treatment of this disease are limited and new phytochemicals emerge as an alternative to existing t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/617401 |
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| author | João S. B. da Luz Erwelly B. de Oliveira Monica C. B. Martins Nicácio H. da Silva Luiz C. Alves Fábio A. B. dos Santos Luiz L. S. da Silva Eliete C. Silva Paloma L. de Medeiros |
| author_facet | João S. B. da Luz Erwelly B. de Oliveira Monica C. B. Martins Nicácio H. da Silva Luiz C. Alves Fábio A. B. dos Santos Luiz L. S. da Silva Eliete C. Silva Paloma L. de Medeiros |
| author_sort | João S. B. da Luz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leishmaniasis is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the infectious parasitic diseases endemic of great relevance and a global public health problem. Pentavalent antimonials used for treatment of this disease are limited and new phytochemicals emerge as an alternative to existing treatments, due to the low toxicity and cost reduction. Usnic acid is uniquely found in lichens and is especially abundant in genera such as Alectoria, Cladonia, Evernia, Lecanora, Ramalina, and Usnea. Usnic acid has been shown to exhibit antiviral, antiprotozoal, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of usnic acid on Leishmania infantum chagasi promastigotes and the occurrence of drug-induced ultrastructural damage in the parasite. Usnic acid was effective against the promastigote forms (IC50 = 18.30 ± 2.00 µg/mL). Structural and ultrastructural aspects of parasite were analyzed. Morphological alterations were observed as blebs in cell membrane and shapes given off, increasing the number of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cellular and mitochondrial swelling, with loss of cell polarity. We concluded that the usnic acid presented antileishmanial activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum chagasi and structural and ultrastructural analysis reinforces its cytotoxicity. Further, in vitro studies are warranted to further evaluate this potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-077de359329f4aa7989cd9ec81fda8b1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2356-6140 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-077de359329f4aa7989cd9ec81fda8b12025-02-03T01:30:15ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2015-01-01201510.1155/2015/617401617401Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic AcidJoão S. B. da Luz0Erwelly B. de Oliveira1Monica C. B. Martins2Nicácio H. da Silva3Luiz C. Alves4Fábio A. B. dos Santos5Luiz L. S. da Silva6Eliete C. Silva7Paloma L. de Medeiros8Pos-Graduation Program in Pathology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilLaboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA) and Research Center Aggeu Magalhães, CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilLaboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA) and Research Center Aggeu Magalhães, CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilPos-Graduation Program in Pathology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilPos-Graduation Program in Pathology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilPos-Graduation Program in Pathology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, 50670-901 Recife, PE, BrazilLeishmaniasis is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the infectious parasitic diseases endemic of great relevance and a global public health problem. Pentavalent antimonials used for treatment of this disease are limited and new phytochemicals emerge as an alternative to existing treatments, due to the low toxicity and cost reduction. Usnic acid is uniquely found in lichens and is especially abundant in genera such as Alectoria, Cladonia, Evernia, Lecanora, Ramalina, and Usnea. Usnic acid has been shown to exhibit antiviral, antiprotozoal, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of usnic acid on Leishmania infantum chagasi promastigotes and the occurrence of drug-induced ultrastructural damage in the parasite. Usnic acid was effective against the promastigote forms (IC50 = 18.30 ± 2.00 µg/mL). Structural and ultrastructural aspects of parasite were analyzed. Morphological alterations were observed as blebs in cell membrane and shapes given off, increasing the number of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cellular and mitochondrial swelling, with loss of cell polarity. We concluded that the usnic acid presented antileishmanial activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum chagasi and structural and ultrastructural analysis reinforces its cytotoxicity. Further, in vitro studies are warranted to further evaluate this potential.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/617401 |
| spellingShingle | João S. B. da Luz Erwelly B. de Oliveira Monica C. B. Martins Nicácio H. da Silva Luiz C. Alves Fábio A. B. dos Santos Luiz L. S. da Silva Eliete C. Silva Paloma L. de Medeiros Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid |
| title_full | Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid |
| title_fullStr | Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid |
| title_short | Ultrastructural Analysis of Leishmania infantum chagasi Promastigotes Forms Treated In Vitro with Usnic Acid |
| title_sort | ultrastructural analysis of leishmania infantum chagasi promastigotes forms treated in vitro with usnic acid |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/617401 |
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