In vitro activity of Tridax procumbens against promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana.
BACKGROUND
Tridax procumbens is an active herb against leishmaniasis.


OBJECTIVE
Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by Leishmania protozoa. We investigated the antileishmanial activity of Tridax procumbens extracts and a pure compound against promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World.


METHODS
Extracts and (3S)-16,17-didehydrofalcarinol (1) were obtained by chromatographic methods from Tridax procumbens, and the latter identified by spectroscopic analysis. The effect of these extracts and 1 on the growth inhibition of promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana was evaluated. In order to test the safety of extracts and 1, mammalian cells were treated with them, and cell viability was assessed using trypan blue and MTT.


RESULTS
We demonstrated that extracts of Tridax procumbens and 1 showed a pronounced activity against Leishmania mexicana. The methanol extract inhibited promastigotes growth of Leishmania mexicana with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 3 microg/ml, while oxylipin 1 exhibited the highest inhibition at IC(50)=0.478 microg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study we report the biological activity of extracts and (3S)-16,17-didehydrofalcarinol (1), obtained from Tridax procumbens, on the promastigote form of Leishmania mexicana, with no effect upon mammalian cells.
Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán(CICY), Mexico.
Zhelmy
Z
Martín-Quintal
Rosa
R
Moo-Puc
Francisco
F
González-Salazar
Manuel J
MJ
Chan-Bacab
Luis W
LW
Torres-Tapia
Sergio R
SR
Peraza-Sánchez
D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019659:Asteraceae; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000187:drug effects*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D015394:Molecular Structure; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
C542489:16,17-didehydrofalcarinol; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010936:Plant Extracts