Fungal infection control by garlic extracts (Allium sativum L.) and modulation of peritoneal macrophages activity in murine model of sporotrichosis

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is grown all over the world as seasoning and medicinal vegetable since 3,000 BC. Allicin is the main component of garlic, being attributed to it the most of its biological activities, such as bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral actions. However, other compounds of garlic present antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, vasodilator activities, protective action against different types of cancer, and immunomodulatory. Fungal infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in people mainly in immunosuppressed ones. Sporothrix schenckii, the causing agent of Sporotrichosis (most common subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America), is dimorphic fungus, of saprophytic life in soil or plants, infecting people and animals mainly through skin injuries and bruises. The main of this work was to evaluate the influence of garlic consuming on immune modulation of healthy and infected Swiss mice in induced way by S. schenckii, since these animals functioning of peritoneal macrophages as well as the nitric oxide and cytokines' production (IL-1β, IL-10 and IL-12) and to evaluate the antifungal potential of garlic with S. schenckii through minimum inhibitory concentration test and colony-forming units. The results showed that garlic offers antifungal potential with S. schenckii. The oral taking of garlic extracts influences the releasing of cytokines by macrophages, regular consuming shows anti-inflammatory effect, and its acute use may take to an inflammatory response. Mice that consumed garlic responded more effectively to fight against the infection.Keywords: garlic, macrophage, Sporothrix schenckii, sporotrichosis, interleukin.Controle da infecção fúngica pelos extratos de alho (Allium sativum L.) e modulação da atividade de macrófagos peritoneais em modelo murino de esporotricose ResumoO alho (Allium sativum L.) é cultivado em todo o mundo como hortaliça condimentar e medicinal desde 3.000 a. C. A alicina é o principal componente do alho, sendo atribuída a ela a maior parte das suas atividades biológicas, dentre elas as ações bactericida, antifúngica e antiviral. Porém, outros compostos do alho apresentam atividade antioxidante, hipocolesterolemiante, vasodilatadora, ação protetora contra diversos tipos de câncer e imunomoduladora. As infecções por fungos são causas importantes de morbidade e mortalidade no homem principalmente em indivíduos imunossuprimidos. O Sporothrix schenckii, agente causal da esporotricose (micose subcutânea mais comum na América Latina), é fungo dimórfico, de vida saprofítica no solo ou em vegetais, infectando homens e os animais principalmente através de lesões e arranhões na pele. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a influência do consumo de alho na imunomodulação de camundongos Swiss saudáveis e infectados de forma induzida por S. schenckii, a partir do estado funcional dos macrófagos peritoneais desses animais quanto à produção de óxido nítrico e das citocinas (IL-1β, IL-10 e IL-12) e avaliar o potencial antifúngico do alho frente ao S. schenckii por meio de...

Plants-Derived Biomolecules as Potent Antiviral Phytomedicines: New Insights on Ethnobotanical Evidences against Coronaviruses

“…A. sativum is reported to have numerous biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, reno-protective, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-hypertensive effects. Cloves of this traditional medicinal plant contain several potent components, such as alliin, allicin, ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and flavonoids [ 108 , 109 , 254 , 255 , 256 ], due to which it is mostly used for treatment of various disorders [ 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 257 ]. On the other hand, an in vitro study conducted by Ziai et al, 2009 on A. sativum and its potential efficacy to inhibit the ACE-2 receptor reported some effective results [ 94 ].…”

Potential Synergistic Action of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Extracts against Skin Infecting Microorganisms

“…Regular consumption increases the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-12 in infected Swiss mice, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in healthy animals. Excessive inflammation may be a natural approach to treating fungal infection [188].…”

Identification the Pathogens Causing Rot Disease in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in China and the Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Garlic Extract

“…It has been confirmed that garlic extract has an antibacterial effect on human dental plaque microbiota [15,16]. Meanwhile, the strong inhibitory effect of garlic extract was also confirmed on dimorphic fungi such as Sporothrix schenckii [17]. Therefore, it is possible that garlic extract can exert its inhibitory effect on pathogens that cause rot disease in pomegranate.…”