In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the trypanocidal activity of the acetone extract of lichen Usnea steineri and its chemical constituents

Author(s):Show less -

Ferreira, Luiz Antonio ; Ferreira, Daniele da Silva ; Tozatti, Marcos Gomide ; Silva, Marcelly Canuto de Almeida ; Groppo, Milton ; Magalhaes, Lizandra Guidi ; Andrade e Silva, Marcio Luis ; Januario, Ana Helena ; Pauletti, Patricia Mendonca ; Verly, Leonardo Bindelli ; Santos, Mario F. C. ; Cunha, Wilson Roberto

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH; v. N/A, p. 6-pg., 2025-02-17.

Abstract

More than 2.5 billion people live in endemic areas for neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Which establishes chronic infections and increases public health spending. Thus, this paper describes the chemical study of Usnea steineri acetone extract and evaluations of trypanocidal activity in vitro and in vivo. Four chemical constituents from the acetone extract have been isolated: usnic acid, diffractaic acid, galbinic acid, and norstictic acid. The acetone extract of U. steineri revealed an IC50 of 49.4 +/- 1.5 mu g/mL regarding the trypomastigote T. cruzi forms. The usnic acid revealed the biggest effectivity regarding the trypomastigote T. cruzi forms. The trypanocidal activity of the usnic acid regarding the amastigote forms revealed promising results, showing IC50 of 67.0 +/- 3.8 mu M. The in vivo evaluation with the usnic acid revealed a decreased parasitemia at 40 mg/kg. Therefore, the results obtained open the perspectives for future studies aiming at its pharmacological application. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/12597-0 - Diversification and enhancement of the collections on the hebaria in the State of São Paulo, with increase of their virtual availability and spatial analysis, for advances in documentation of the Neotropical biodiversity
• Grantee: José Rubens Pirani
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/06260-2 - Integrative systematic studies in Neotropical families, with emphasis on Rutaceae, Asteraceae and Rubiaceae
• Grantee: Milton Groppo Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/11451-2 - EMU Collections Infrastructure: acquisition of equipment for generating 2D and 3D radiographic anatomical images from the scientific collections of the Department of Biology at FFCLRP, USP, Ribeirão Preto, for availability on the internet
• Grantee: Fernando Luis Medina Mantelatto
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Collections