Avaliação da atividade tripanocida in vitro de extrato de folhas de Pereskia aculeata

Abstract

Chagas disease was discovered in 1909 by Carlos Chagas and is transmitted by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). The World Health Organization classifies Chagas disease on the list of neglected tropical diseases, which are prevalent in impoverished populations. Pereskia aculeata (P. aculeata), which belongs to the Cactaceae family and is popularly known as ora-pro-nóbis (OPN), has bioactive properties and has been found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and free radical damage inhibitory properties. In this way, the study of medicinal plants becomes an alternative in the search for new treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-T. cruzi activity of P. aculeata leaf extract obtained by ultrasound assisted extraction against the T. cruzi parasite. The OPN leaf extract was tested on the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi using L929 cells. The treatments were carried out at different concentrations (9.1 to 300 µg/mL) diluted in RPMI or DMEM medium. Some of the concentrations tested had trypanocidal activity, especially the concentration of 300 µg/mL, which acted on the epimastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite. In the cytotoxicity tests, the extract did not affect cell viability at the concentrations tested. The extract was unable to stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO), but in one of the concentrations it was able to inhibit its secretion, as well as demonstrating antioxidant activity and suppressing the production of superoxide anion.