Determining the therapeutic potential of natural antioxidants in the experimental Chagas disease

• Grant number: 16/03632-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Medicines Analysis and Control
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio de Albuquerque
• Grantee: Maiara Voltarelli Providello
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chagas disease affects approximately 7 million people around the world as part of the group of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The disease is endemic in Latin America, with the etiologic agent the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and its transmission occurs mainly through an insect vector, the triatomine. There are numerous studies involving this trypanosomiasis and increased adversity found by researchers is finding therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of disease, because the existing drugs have limited efficacy in chronic phase and bring numerous toxic effects, mainly related to oxidative stress, which is generated due to the active compound of the drug, and is a natural part of an infectious process. Studies using antioxidants in disease therapy have been conducted and the results are promising. In this project will be used melatonin, ascorbic acid and cyanocobalamin, substances whose antioxidant action has been widely studied, isolated and associated with benznidazole in order to verify their therapeutic potential. They will be perfomed in vitro biological assays on amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi using LLCMK2 cell line and in vivo protocols, performed in the acute phase of infection using an experimental model mice. The evaluated parameters are advancing infection in vivo tests, the development of amastigotes in vitro tests as well as the cytotoxicity of the substances evaluated. The parasitemia in animals will be determined and parasitism will be assessed by qPCR. In addition, assays which indicate the concentration of reactive oxygen species may be additionally performed to confirm the therapeutic effect.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PROVIDELLO, MAIARA VOLTARELLI; PORTAPILLA, GISELE BULHOES; SAMPAIO OLIVEIRA, PEDRO ALEXANDRE; PACHECO DA SILVA, CARLA BRIGAGAO; ANCHIETA, NAIRA FERREIRA; TIRAPELLI, CARLOS RENATO; DE ALBUQUERQUE, SERGIO. Melatonin decreases circulating Trypanosoma cruzi load with no effect on tissue parasite replication. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, v. 99, n. 8, p. 795-802, AUG 2021. (16/03632-6)

PROVIDELLO, MAIARA VOLTARELLI; CARNEIRO, ZUMIRA APARECIDA; PORTAPILLA, GISELE BULHOES; DO VALE, GABRIEL TAVARES; CAMARGO, RICARDO SOUZA; TIRAPELLI, CARLOS RENATO; DE ALBUQUERQUE, SERGIO. Benefits of Ascorbic Acid in Association with Low-Dose Benznidazole in Treatment of Chagas Disease. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, v. 62, n. 9, SEP 2018. (16/03632-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PROVIDELLO, Maiara Voltarelli. Determination of the therapeutic potential of natural antioxidants in experimental Chagas\' disease. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.