Avaliação da ação tripanocida e leishmanicida de extratos de Eugenia pyriformis

Abstract

Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis are diseases considered neglected, present mainly in underdeveloped and developing countries. Chagas disease, beside to being transmitted by the insect vector, can also occur through transfusion of contaminated blood, which affects about 5 to 20% of cases. The most frequently drugs used for the treatment of trypanosomiasis are nitroheterocyclic compounds Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, which cause systemic toxicity and adverse effects. Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites of more than 20 species of the genus Leishmania, for which treatment has historically been based on the use of pentavalent antimony for which there is evidence of resistance. Thus, the development of alternative therapeutic strategies to treat Chagas' disease and Leishmaniasis has become a high priority. This study evaluated leishmanicidal and trypanocidal action as well as immunomodulatory action on macrophages of extracts obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction (extract 1) and ultrasonic assisted extraction (extract 2) of Uvaia leaves (Eugenia pyriformis). The results show a growth inhibition of promastigotes of L. amazonensis with IC50 of 3.15 μg/mL for extract 1 and 12.39 μg/mL for extract 2. In trypanocidal tests, an action similar to Benznidazole was detected, mainly in the infective form (trypomastigote), with an LC50 of 16.62 μg/mL for extract 1 and 6.23 μg/mL for extract 2. Both extracts showed safety with L. amazonensis, for extract 1 up to the concentration of 100 μg / mL, and with the infective form of T. cruzi (promastigote), evaluated by its Selectivity Index (IS). In the evaluation of the ability to stimulate the production of nitric oxide and superoxide, the two extracts were able to stimulate in some concentrations. The phagocytic capacity was evaluated, not presenting significant differences to those of the controls used. Thus, this study revealed the ability of Uvaia extracts to act against microorganisms that cause Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, as well as some action on murine macrophages, justifying further studies for future in vivo tests as a potential therapeutic alternative, for the pathologies treated in this study.