title: Ultrastructural changes on Entamoeba histolytica HM1-IMSS caused by the flavan-3-ol, (-)-epicatechin.
abstract: The flavan-3-ol, (-)-epicatechin has been previously identified as the most important antiamoebic compound among the extracts from two medicinal plants: Rubus coriifolius and Geranium mexicanum. Here we report the effects of epicatechin on Entamoeba histolytica morphology, analyzed by electronic microscopy. E. histolytica trophozoites were incubated for 48 h at 37 degrees C in the presence of 1.9 microg/mL epicatechin and processed for electronic microscopy analysis. Epicatechin induced nuclear and cytoplasmic changes in the treated trophozoites. These morphological alterations are identical to the cellular changes experienced by E. histolytica trophozoites undergoing programmed cell death (PCD), suggesting that epicatechin could be an alternative compound to treat amoebiasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biomedicina Molecular 1, Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía-IPN, México City, México.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calzada
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D031315:Geranium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002392:Catechin