Anti-Leishmania activity of essential oil of Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All.: Composition, cytotoxity and possible mechanisms of action

Abstract

Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All., commonly known as "aroeira-do-sertão", is a medicinal plant from Anacardiaceae family. In this study, the chemical composition of M. urundeuva essential oil (MuEO) was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), as well as its anti-Leishmania potential, cytotoxicity, and macrophage activation capability as possible antiprotozoal mechanism of action were assessed. Fourteen compounds were identified, which constituted 94.87% of total oil composition. The most abundant components were monoterpenes (80.35%), with β-myrcene (42.46%), α-myrcene (37.23%), and caryophyllene (4.28%) as the major constituents. The MuEO inhibited the growth of promastigotes (IC 205 ± 13.4 μg mL), axenic amastigotes (IC 104.5 ± 11.82 μg mL) and decreased percentage of macrophage infection and number of amastigotes per macrophage (IC of 44.5 ± 4.37 μg⋅mL), suggesting significant anti-Leishmania activity. The cytotoxicity of MuEO was assessed by MTT test in Balb/c murine macrophages and by human erythrocytes lysis assay and low cytotoxicity for these cells was observed. The CC value against macrophages were 550 ± 29.21 μg mL, while cytotoxicity for erythrocytes was around 20% at the highest concentration assessed, with HC > 800 μg mL. While MuEO-induced anti-Leishmania activity is not mediated by increases in both lysosomal activity and nitric oxide production in macrophages, the results suggest the antiamastigote activity is associated with an immunomodulatory activity of macrophages due to an increase of phagocytic capability induced by MuEO. Thus, MuEO presented significant activity against Leishmania amazonensis, probably modulating the activation of macrophages, with low cytotoxicity to murine macrophages and human erythrocytes.

Chemical composition and evaluation of the antibacterial and Cytotoxic activities of the essential oil from the leaves of Myracrodruon urundeuva

“…This study presents α-pinene (87.85%) as the major constituent in M. urundeuva leaf essential oil. However, it is not known whether α-pinene is chiefly responsible for the bactericidal action of the oil, or if one of the other terpenes promotes such action, since in other studies, the essential oils from M. urundeuva leaves have shown different terpene proportions from our results [ 27 , 28 , 39 , 40 ]. It is important to consider differences in the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from plants of the same species.…”

“…Such activity is probably attributable to the terpenoids, since they represented a higher proportion of the constituents in the GC-MS and GC/FID analyses. Similarly, other studies attribute antimicrobial activity to these secondary metabolites due to being abundant constituents in these essential oils [ 16 – 20 , 27 , 28 , 38 ].…”

“…This plant has been noted for its antimicrobial potential, which was evidenced when molecules obtained from crude extracts of M. urundeuva were found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties [ 24 – 27 ]. Additionally, other studies indicate antiparasitic [ 28 ], analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties [ 29 ], encouraging research on the possible uses for this substance in herbal medicine.…”

Analysis of the Variability of Therapeutic Indications of Medicinal Species in the Northeast of Brazil: Comparative Study

“…M. urundeuva showed the second highest mean relative importance (RI 2 = 1.35) for the communities, with values varying from 0.40 to 2.0, and in more than 75% of these communities the RI was >1. Pharmacologically, this species already has scientific confirmation for a variety of activities, among which is its antileishmaniasis [77], antibacterial [78], antiviral [79], antiulcer [80], and anti-inflammatory activity [81], which in part is attributed to the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and dimeric chalcones isolated from the bark, proving to be an effective analgesic in wound healing, when used in animal models [82]. …”

Leishmaniose E Plantas Medicinais: Uma Revisão

“…Em alguns dos trabalhos avaliados, foram utilizados óleos essenciais provenientes das plantas (ALOUI et al, 2016;ANDRADE et al, 2016;CARVALHO et al, 2017;de MELO et al, 2013;DEZAKI et al, 2016;ESSID et al, 2015;MACHADO et al, 2012;MONZOTE, PASTOR, SCULL;GILLE, 2014;MONZOTE et al, 2014;MUKHERJEE et al, 2016;RODRIGUES et al, 2015;RODRIGUES et al, 2013;VARELA et al, 2016). Os componentes dos óleos essenciais possuem caráter lipofílico e dessa maneira, conseguem atravessar a membrana plasmática, interferindo na composição desta.…”