Protective effect of nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres against cerebral damage caused by Trypanosoma evansi

Abstract

Trypanosoma evansi is a zoonotic parasite associated with high animal mortality that has gained importance due to its capacity to infect humans. Recently, some evidences have demonstrated that T. evansi infection causes severe genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in brain cells, contributing to the pathogenesis and clinical signs of the disease. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres, a natural compound with trypanocidal and neuroprotective effects, is able to protect the brain tissue from the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects found during T. evansi infections. Trypanosoma evansi induced brain genotoxic effects through increased damage index (DI) and frequency of damage (FD) when compared to the control group. Moreover, T. evansi induced cytotoxic effects through the reduction of brain cell viability compared to the control group. The metabolites of nitric oxide (NO ) increased in infected animals compared to the control group. The treatment with nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres prevented the increase on brain DI, FD, and NO levels, as well as the reduction on cell viability. Based on these evidences, these results confirm that T. evansi induces genotoxic and cytotoxic damage mediated by the upregulation of NO levels. The most important finding is that nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres was able to prevent DNA damage and cell mortality through the modulation of brain NO levels. In summary, this treatment can be considered an interesting approach to prevent T. evansi brain damage due its anti-inflammatory property.

Terpenoids, Cannabimimetic Ligands, beyond the Cannabis Plant

“…[213]. Substantiating, Baldissera et al reported that nerolidol-loaded nanospheres mitigated the Trypanosoma evansi-induced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in the rodent brain tissue during infection by upregulating NO levels; thus, preventing DNA damage and cell death [210]. Such results strongly support that nerolidol (a food additive and safe molecule) is an effective antiparasitic agent and could potentially display anti-inflammatory properties.…”

“…Nerolidol ((6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-trien-3-ol), also known as peruviol, is a noncyclic sesquiterpene alkene alcohol common to citrus peels, Piper claussenianum, Baccharis dracunculifolia, and Cannabis plant [210]. Previously, it was demonstrated its inhibitory effect on the growth of Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes.…”

Cannabinoids in traumatic brain injury and related neuropathologies: preclinical and clinical research on endogenous, plant-derived, and synthetic compounds

“…Similarly, in a model of ischemic stroke, α-pinene prevented oxidative damage and inflammation, and rescued behavior deficits [ 117 ]. Nerolidol appears to have similar effects, with evidence that it prevented DNA damage through upregulation of nitric oxide levels [ 118 ]. Although these were studied in the context of parasitic infection (mice infected with Trypanosoma evansi), these mechanisms have potential relevance to TBI.…”

Nerolidol, a Sesquiterpene Alcohol, Attenuates Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats

“…It can be found in several plants such as lavender, lemon grass, and ginger (Chan et al 2016). It has shown anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-in ammatory, antioxidant properties (Lima et al 2012;Fonsêca et al 2016;Baldissera et al 2018). Recently, it was demonstrated its cardioprotector effect in a preventive treatment of MI (Asaikumar et al 2019).…”