In vitroevaluation of the effect of curcuminoids against Schistosoma mansoni parasite

• Grant number: 18/04088-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Lizandra Guidi Magalhães
• Grantee: Lucas Antonio de Lima Paula
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitosis caused by helminths of the genus Schistosoma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million people worldwide, with another 600 million at risk of infection. The treatment focuses on reducing the morbidity of the disease through periodic and directed treatment with Praziquantel (PZQ), but some reports show the appearance of lines less sensitive to this treatment. In this sense, the knowledge of new substances is of interest for the development of new drugs against schistosomiasis. Previous studies have shown that curcumin, a substance extracted from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant, shows schistosomicidal activity both in vitro and in vivo, but its low bioavailability prevents its approval as a drug. On the other hand, studies with other curcuminoids revealed promising trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activities. Thus, the objective of this project is to perform in vitro evaluations of several curcuminoids for the identification of prototypes for the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni. For this purpose, the substances already synthesized will be evaluated against the stage of adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni strain Luiz Evangelista (LE). Subsequently, substances with 50% inhibitory concentration values of parasite (IC50) viability equal to or lower than 10¼M will be reevaluated in the young in vitro stages of worms. Then, the morphological changes caused by the substances will be evaluated in adult and young worms of S. mansoni. In parallel, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these substances will be determined. (AU)