Leishmanicidal, cytotoxicity and wound healing potential of Arrabidaea chica Verlot

Abstract

BackgroundLeishmaniasis includes a wide complex of diseases that affect humans and other mammals, and can range from a mild cutaneous form to a severe visceral type. The safety of the standard treatment using pentavalent antimony is a concern due to its toxic effects. The search for alternative, effective and less toxic treatments has led to the testing of natural products. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, leishmanicidal and healing potential of Arrabidaea chica.MethodsThe crude ethanolic extract, as well as the chloroform, methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of A. chica were prepared and phytochemical analysis was performed. Cytotoxic evaluation was carried out through MTT colorimetric assay, and the 50 % cellular cytotoxicity was determined. After that, the effect of the extract and fractions against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes, at intervals of 24, 48 and 72 h, was analyzed, and 50 % inhibitory concentration was determined. The healing effect of the plant was also tested in surgical lesions in Swiss mice skin.ResultsPhytochemical screening showed that the crude extracts contained flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. The leishmanicidal potential of A. chica produced satisfactory results in concentrations of between 60 and 155.9 μg/mL. Cytotoxic assay revealed a 50 % reduction in viable cells at a concentration of 189.9 μg/mL. The healing results indicated that the treated group exhibited more pronounced signs of lesion resolution in the early period, but this pattern did not persist throughout the treatment.ConclusionsThe results of the present study demonstrate that A. chica has cytotoxic and leishmanicidal potential but its healing effect must be better studied.

Implicit Reasons for Disclosure of the Use of Complementary Health Approaches (CHA): a Consumer Commitment Perspective

“…Consistent with a systematic review of the health beliefs associated with CHA use (28), those who believe that CHA is a natural treatment option, promotes taking an active role in treatment and exercising control over one’s health, and emphasizes whole person treatment, are more likely to continue to use CHA because using CHA reinforces their health beliefs (30). In this respect, the CAM commitment model shares some of the underlying principles of other widely used and well-validated models of motivated health behavior, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; 27).…”

“…One model that holds some promise for addressing these issues and providing insights into how CHA values and beliefs are implicated in CHA disclosure behaviour, is the CAM consumer commitment model (30)(see Figure 1). Derived from extant research on the reasons why people continue to use CHA (5, 31, 32), consumer psychology (33) and health behavior theory (27, 34), the CAM consumer commitment model posits that commitment to CHA reflects a psychological state with behavioral indicators (30).…”

“…Derived from extant research on the reasons why people continue to use CHA (5, 31, 32), consumer psychology (33) and health behavior theory (27, 34), the CAM consumer commitment model posits that commitment to CHA reflects a psychological state with behavioral indicators (30). According to this model, disclosing CHA use to conventional health-care providers is one of several key CHA-related behaviours that reflect a commitment to continued use of CHA as a health-care option (25, 30). These include using CHA frequently (5, 32, 35), recommending CHA to others, and adhering to CHA recommendations.…”

“…The CAM consumer commitment model (30) is founded on principles of brand commitment from consumer psychology (33), and posits that CAM use as a health-care choice, has similarities to brand choice among consumers. Brand commitment or the degree to which a “consumer is emotionally attached to the relationship with a particular brand in a product class” (33), arises from value congruency and affective commitment, two related psychological constructs.…”

“…Extending this model to CHA use, the CAM consumer commitment model posits that two sets of consumer values contribute to the development of commitment to CHA as a “brand” of health care. Utilitarian values reflect the functional benefits of CHA, which are that people will be motivated to commit to CHA use if they obtain positive outcomes from CHA, are satisfied with their CHA care, and trust CHA as a treatment option (30). These positive physical, emotional, and behavioral outcomes from CHA treatment are posited to play a role in commitment by reinforcing peoples’ decision to use CHA.…”