Copaifera spp. oleoresins impair Toxoplasma gondii infection in both human trophoblastic cells and human placental explants

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-09, Vol.10 (1), p.15158, Article 15158
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Samuel Cota, de Souza, Guilherme, Borges, Bruna Cristina, de Araújo, Thádia Evelyn, Rosini, Alessandra Monteiro, Aguila, Fábio Alves, Ambrósio, Sergio Ricardo, Veneziani, Rodrigo Cassio Sola, Bastos, Jairo Kenupp, Silva, Marcelo José Barbosa, Martins, Carlos Henrique Gomes, de Freitas Barbosa, Bellisa, Ferro, Eloisa Amália Vieira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/250/255/1715; 631/326/421; 631/80; 692/699/255/1715; Acute toxicity; Animals; Antiparasitic agents; Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage; Antiprotozoal Agents - isolation & purification; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle Checkpoints - drug effects; Cell Line; Copaifera; Cytokines - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Explants; Fabaceae - chemistry; Fabaceae - classification; Female; Host-Parasite Interactions - drug effects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunomodulation; Interleukin 6; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; multidisciplinary; Oleoresins; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Phytotherapy; Placenta; Placenta - drug effects; Placenta - parasitology; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - drug therapy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - parasitology; Protozoa; Pyrimethamine; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Side effects; Sulfadiazine; Toxoplasma - cytology; Toxoplasma - drug effects; Toxoplasma - pathogenicity; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis - complications; Toxoplasmosis - drug therapy; Toxoplasmosis - parasitology; Trophoblasts - drug effects; Trophoblasts - parasitology; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72230-0

The combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is the standard care in cases of congenital toxoplasmosis. However, therapy with these drugs is associated with severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects. The investigation of phytotherapeutic alternatives to treat parasitic diseases without acute toxicity is essential for the advancement of current therapeutic practices. The present study investigates the antiparasitic effects of oleoresins from different species of Copaifera genus against T. gondii . Oleoresins from C. reticulata , C. duckei , C. paupera, and C. pubiflora were used to treat human trophoblastic cells (BeWo cells) and human villous explants infected with T. gondii. Our results demonstrated that oleoresins were able to reduce T. gondii intracellular proliferation, adhesion, and invasion. We observed an irreversible concentration-dependent antiparasitic action in infected BeWo cells, as well as parasite cell cycle arrest in the S/M phase. The oleoresins altered the host cell environment by modulation of ROS, IL-6, and MIF production in BeWo cells. Also, Copaifera oleoresins reduced parasite replication and TNF-α release in villous explants. Anti- T. gondii effects triggered by the oleoresins are associated with immunomodulation of the host cells, as well as, direct action on parasites.