Essential oils: in vitro activity against Leishmania amazonensis, cytotoxicity and chemical composition

Abstract

BackgroundThe current chemotherapy for cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) has a series of drug limitations such as toxic side effects, long duration, high costs and drug resistance, which requires the development of new drugs or effective alternatives to the CL treatment. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of secondary metabolites from various plants. It has been shown that several EOs, or their constituents, have inhibitory activity against protozoa. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the biological activity of different essential oils (EOs) on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes forms, as well as their cytotoxicity on mammalian cells and chemical composition.MethodsSixteen EOs were evaluated by mean of IC50/24 h and cytotoxicity against L6 cells (CC50/24 h) using Resazurin assay. Only those EOs that presented better results for IC50/24 h were submitted to GC–MS analysis to determine their chemical constitution.ResultsThe EO from Cinnamodendron dinisii, Matricaria chamomilla, Myroxylon peruiferum, Salvia sclarea, Bulnesia sarmientoi, Ferula galbaniflua, Siparuna guianensis and Melissa officinalis were the most active against L. amazonensis with IC50/24 h ranging from 54.05 to 162.25 μg/mL. Analysis of EOs by GC–MS showed mainly the presence of β-farnesene (52.73 %) and bisabolol oxide (12.09 %) for M. chamomilla; α-copaene (13.41 %), safrole (8.35 %) and δ-cadinene (7.08 %) for M. peruiferum; linalool (28.80 %) and linalyl acetate (60.08 %) for S. sclarea; guaiol (48.29 %) and 2-undecanone (19.49 %) for B. sarmientoi; ethyl phthalate (13.09 %) and methyl-8-pimaren-18-oate (41.82 %) for F. galbaniflua; and neral (37.18 %) and citral (5.02 %) for M. officinalis.ConclusionThe EO from F. galbaniflua showed to be effective against L. amazonensis promastigotes forms and presented low cytotoxic activity against L6 cells. Thus, it represents a strong candidate for future studies aiming its molecular activity on these pathogenic parasites.

Phytochemical Screening and Antiprotozoal Effects of the Methanolic Berberis Vulgaris and Acetonic Rhus Coriaria Extracts

“…Interestingly, recent studies documented the antiprotozoal activities of various bioactive molecules identified in our GC-MS analysis. For instance, Le et al [36] documented the antitrypanosomal activity of α-curcumene, the main chemical component in MEBV with IC 50 value of 13.38 µg/mL against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, whereas Andrade et al [37] disclosed the antileishmanial efficacy of guaiol against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes forms. Moreover, Colares et al [38] and Le et al [39] proved antileishmanial activity of eugenol and methyleugenol (the main chemical components in AERC) against promastigotes of L. amazonensis.…”

Review and in silico analysis of fermentation, bioenergy, fiber, and biopolymer genes of biotechnological interest in Agave L. for genetic improvement and biocatalysis

“…Also, the use of Agave saponins to inhibit the growth of yeasts and their application in biocontrol against pathogens is interesting. 176,177 Presence of 2-undecanone in leaves of A. attenuata Salm-Dyck has been reported, 178 a metabolite found in plant extracts that is used as a commercial insect repellent, [179][180][181] is harmless to humans, and its use is authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. 182 The compound has proven effective for biological control in several species attacking economically important crops, its action mechanism having been suggested to be related to its agonist or antagonist modulation activity on olfactory receptors, 183 so isolation from Agave of new metabolites for their use as bioinsecticides is a research line that could be explored.…”

Herbal Drugs with Promising Anti-Leishmanial Activity: New Hope for Leishmaniasis Treatment

“…Citrullus colocynthis fruit extract and its fractions showed anti-leishmanial properties (19). Biological activity of different essential oils (EOs) from various plants on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes forms was investigated and the results showed that EOs were effective against L. amazonensis promastigotes with low cytotoxic activity against L6 cells (20). Anti-leishmanial property of Artemisia sieberi essential oil against Leishmania infantum was assessed with MTT measurements (21).…”