In Vivo Antiprotozoal Activity of the Chloroform Extract from Carica papaya Seeds against Amastigote Stage of Trypanosoma cruzi during Indeterminate and Chronic Phase of Infection

Abstract

In order to evaluate the antiprotozoal activity of the chloroform extract of Carica papaya seeds during the subacute and chronic phase of infection of Trypanosoma cruzi, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg were evaluated during the subacute phase, including a mixture of their main components (oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids). Subsequently, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg in mice during the chronic phase of infection (100 dpi) were also evaluated. It was found that chloroform extract was able to reduce the amastigote nests numbers during the subacute phase in 55.5 and 69.7% (P > 0.05) as well as in 56.45% in animals treated with the mixture of fatty acids. Moreover, the experimental groups treated with 50 and 75 mg/kg during the chronic phase of the infection showed a significant reduction of 46.8 and 53.13% respectively (P < 0.05). It is recommended to carry out more studies to determine if higher doses of chloroformic extract or its administration in combination with other antichagasic drugs allows a better response over the intracellular stage of T. cruzi in infected animal models and determine if the chloroform extract of C. papaya could be considered as an alternative for treatment during the indeterminate and chronic phase of the infection.

Applicability of plant-based products in the treatment ofTrypanosoma cruziandTrypanosoma bruceiinfections: a systematic review of preclinicalin vivoevidence

“…This aspect could partially explain the rarity of studies investigating the chronic phase of T. cruzi (Jiménez-Coello et al . 2014) and T. brucei (Nasimolo et al . 2014) infections.…”

“…Since parasitaemia can drop to undetectable levels in chronic stages (Marin-Neto et al 2007;Bern, 2015), it is difficult to accurately determine if the beneficial outcomes are determined by a direct parasitic control of the products tested or by a secondary effect of the product on the metabolism and structure of the target organs in both diseases. This aspect could partially explain the rarity of studies investigating the chronic phase of T. cruzi (Jiménez-Coello et al 2014) and T. brucei (Nasimolo et al 2014) infections.…”

Review on Experimental Treatment Strategies Against Trypanosoma cruzi

“… [ 129 ] Carica papaya Crude seed extracts Extracts were able to reduce parasitemia, but not the cardiac amastigotes nests of infected mice. [ 127 ] Delphinium staphisagria Flavonoids from aerial parts Flavonoids were active against T. cruzi in vitro and in infected mice. [ 124 ] Artemisia annua artemisinin (sesquiterpene lactone) Artemisinin presented in vitro activity and inhibited calcium-dependent ATPase activity in T. cruzi membranes.…”

“…Natural products isolated from different botanical sources exhibited activity against T. cruzi (see Table 2). [120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132] Several approaches have been developed focusing on identification and isolation of plantbased products with anti-T. cruzi activity 133,134 (Table 2). In this sense, extracts from different plants as Salvia, Valeriana, Hypericum, Silybum, Arnica, and Curcuma showed activity against T. cruzi.…”

Mexican Medicinal Plants as an Alternative for the Development of New Compounds Against Protozoan Parasites

“…Some data also indicated that it has antiprotozoal activity. Therefore, Jimenez-Coello et al [60] evaluated the effects of extracts and a mixture of the main components of C. papaya against T. cruzi amastigotes during subacute phase and chronic disease. Results showed that chloroformic extract was able to reduce the number of amastigotes (55.5 and 69.7%) in cardiac tissue of infected mice during the subacute phase at a concentration of 50 and 75 mg/kg, respectively.…”