In vivo antileishmanial activity and chemical profile of polar extract from Selaginella sellowii

Abstract

The polar hydroethanolic extract from Selaginella sellowii(SSPHE) has been previously proven active on intracellular amastigotes (in vitro test) and now was tested on hamsters infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis (in vivo test). SSPHE suppressed a 100% of the parasite load in the infection site and draining lymph nodes at an intralesional dose of 50 mg/kg/day × 5, which was similar to the results observed in hamsters treated with N-methylglucamine antimonate (Sb) (28 mg/Kg/day × 5). When orally administered, SSPHE (50 mg/kg/day × 20) suppressed 99.2% of the parasite load in infected footpads, while Sb suppressed 98.5%. SSPHE also enhanced the release of nitric oxide through the intralesional route in comparison to Sb. The chemical fingerprint of SSPHE by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and tandem mass spectrometry showed the presence of biflavonoids and high molecular weight phenylpropanoid glycosides. These compounds may have a synergistic action in vivo. Histopathological study revealed that the intralesional treatment with SSPHE induced an intense inflammatory infiltrate, composed mainly of mononuclear cells. The present findings reinforce the potential of this natural product as a source of future drug candidates for American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

GoldLeish: gold(I) Complexes as Oral Drug Candidates to Treat Leishmaniasis are Potent Trypanothione Reductase Inhibitors and Exert in vivo Efficacy

“…In vivo efficacy assays revealed that the oral treatment with AdT Et and AdO Et, even in low dose, is able to reduce lesion size and parasite burden in cutaneous leishmaniasis animal model. Usually new antileishmanial candidates for oral administration are tested around 50 mg/kg [52][53][54] , highlighting how the gold(I) complexes studied here are promising antileishmanial drugs. Since gold(I) are known to possess anti-inflammatory properties [55][56][57] , we speculate that this feature could serve synergistically with their anti-leishmanial activity to treat experimental leishmaniasis.…”

Comparative transcriptome analysis suggests convergent evolution of desiccation tolerance in Selaginella species

“…Here we report comparative RNA-Seq analysis at different time points of the dessication process of the isophyllous plant species S. sellowii and the anisophyllous species S. denticulata. The study of S. sellowii has previously focused on pharmacological applications due to its potential use in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [24], a major health problem in Central and South Examples of the morphology of each of the species analyzed. Features and positions of major groups of land plants adapted from [2] and consensus phylogenetic relationships between Selaginella species from [1,[3][4][5][6] America.…”

“…Here we report comparative RNA-Seq analysis at different time points of the dessication process of the isophyllous plant species S. sellowii and the anisophyllous species S. denticulata. The study of S. sellowii has previously focused on pharmacological applications due to its potential use in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [ 24 ], a major health problem in Central and South America. S. sellowii was first reported as desiccation tolerant by Gaff in 1987 [ 25 ], but its molecular mechanisms of DT has not been characterized.…”

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and evaluation of cytotoxicity of the fractions obtained fromSelaginella convoluta(Arn.) Spring (Selaginellaceae)

“…Approximately 270 species of Selaginella are found in America, of which 61 occur in Brazil, and the genus is widely distributed throughout America, Africa and Europe [14,16]. Many species of Selaginella have demonstrated medicinal potential and are sources of bioactive compounds, mainly biflavonoids [17][18][19][20][21][22]. In the Caatinga, the genus is represented by Selaginella convoluta, a medicinal plant commonly known as 'jeric o', 'mão-de-sapo' and 'mão-fechada.'…”