| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Jesus, Jessica A.
;
Fragoso, Thais N.
;
Yamamoto, Eduardo S.
;
Laurenti, Marcia D.
;
Silva, Marcelo S.
;
Ferreira, Aurea F.
;
Lago, Joao Henrique G.
;
Gomes, Gabriela S.
;
Passero, Luiz Felipe D.
Total Authors: 9
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE; v. 7, n. 1, p. 1-11, APR 2017. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 15 |
| Abstract | |
Leishmaniasis is an important neglected tropical disease, affecting more than 12 million people worldwide. The available treatments are not well tolerated and present diverse side effects in patients, justifying the search for new therapeutic compounds. In the present study, the therapeutic potential and toxicity of ursolic acid (UA), isolated from the leaves of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae), were evaluated in experimental visceral leishmaniasis. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of UA, hamsters infected with L. (L.) infantum were treated daily during 15 days with 1.0 or 2.0 mg UA/kg body weight, or with 5.0 mg amphotericin B/kg body weight by intraperitoneal route. Fifteen days after the last dose, the parasitism of the spleen and liver was stimated and the main histopathological alterations were recorded. The proliferation of splenic mononuclear cells was evaluated and IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 gene expressions were analyzed in spleen fragments. The toxicity of UA and amphotericin B were evaluated in healthy golden hamsters by histological analysis and biochemical parameters. Animals treated with UA had less parasites in the spleen and liver when compared with the infected control group, and they also showed preservation of white and red pulps, which correlate with a high rate of proliferation of splenic mononuclear cells, IFN-g mRNA and iNOS production. Moreover, animals treated with UA did not present alterations in the levels of AST, ALT, creatinine and urea. Taken together, these findings indicate that UA is an interesting natural compound that should be considered for the development of prototype drugs against visceral leishmaniasis. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/10133-8 - Analysis of terapeutic action of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in visceral leishmaniasis experimental |
| Grantee: | Jéssica Adriana de Jesus |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/00468-0 - Use of drug repurposing and natural product bioprospection to characterize compounds with in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal action |
| Grantee: | Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/16297-2 - Analysis of anti-Leishmania and anti-Tripanosoma potencials of oleanolic and ursolic acids |
| Grantee: | Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/11936-2 - Use of chemodiversity of plant species in remaining areas of Atlantic Forest from São Paulo State in the selection of biologically active prototypes |
| Grantee: | João Henrique Ghilardi Lago |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |