In Vitro and In Vivo Leishmanicidal Activity of Astronium fraxinifolium (Schott) and Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

• Published in: BioMed research international 2014-01, Vol.2014 (2014), p.1-7
• Main Authors: de Lima, Silvio César Gomes, Teixeira, Maria Jania, Lopes Júnior, José Evaldo Gonçalves, de Morais, Selene Maia, Torres, Alba Fabiola, Braga, Milena Aguiar, Rodrigues, Raphael Oliveira, Santiago, Gilvandete Maria Pinheiro, Martins, Alice Maria Costa, Nagao-Dias, Aparecida Tiemi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anacardiaceae - chemistry; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Line; Cricetinae; Drug dosages; Infections; Leishmania; Leishmania braziliensis - drug effects; Leishmania braziliensis - growth & development; Life Cycle Stages - drug effects; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plectranthus; Plectranthus - chemistry; Viannia braziliensis
• ISSN: 2314-6133; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/848293

The aim of the present work was to evaluate antileishmanial activity of Astronium fraxinifolium and Plectranthus amboinicus. For the in vitro tests, essential oil of P. amboinicus (OEPA) and ethanolic extracts from A. fraxinifolium (EEAF) were incubated with 106  promastigotes of L. (Viannia) braziliensis. The OEPA was able to reduce the parasite growth after 48 h; nonetheless, all the EEAFs could totally abolish the parasite growth. For the in vivo studies, BALB/c mice were infected subcutaneously (s.c.) with 107  L. braziliensis promastigotes. Treatment was done by administering OEPA intralesionally (i.l.) for 14 days. No difference was found in lesion thickness when those animals were compared with the untreated animals. Further, golden hamsters were infected s.c. with 106  L. braziliensis promastigotes. The first protocol of treatment consisted of ethanolic leaf extract from A. fraxinifolium (ELEAF) administered i.l. for 4 days and a booster dose at the 7th day. The animals showed a significant reduction of lesion thickness in the 6th week, but it was not comparable to the animals treated with Glucantime. The second protocol consisted of 15 daily intralesional injections. The profiles of lesion thickness were similar to the standard treatment. In conclusion, in vivo studies showed a high efficacy when the infected animals were intralesionally treated with leaf ethanolic extract from A. fraxinifolium.