Characterization of Bowdichia virgilioides extracts on the enzyme arginase from Leishmania amazonensis

• Grant number: 13/17237-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Edson Roberto da Silva
• Grantee: Lara Cristine Rosa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is an anthropozoonosis that affects domestic dogs and humans. The dogs with leishmaniasis are sacrificed due to lack of proper treatment. The enzyme arginase of Leishmania is a validated target for developing drugs against the parasite. Our group works with medicinal plants that have activity in cultured parasite and inhibit the enzyme arginase. The plant extract from Bowdichia virgilioides has in vitro activity against arginase enzyme from L. (L.) amazonensis. So we propose in this project to isolate inhibitors and to characterize biochemically the enzyme inhibitions by natural compounds from B. virgilioides. (AU)