title: Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff: In vitro activity against the trophozoite stage of a natural sesquiterpene and a synthetic cobalt(II)-lapachol complex.
abstract: In this study, the in vitro activities of a natural sesquiterpene, alpha-cyperotundone, isolated from the root bark of Maytenus retusa and a cobalt(II)-complex of a natural occurring prenyl hydroxynaphthoquinone (lapachol) were evaluated against the trophozoite stage of Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff using a previously developed colorimetric 96-well microtiter plate assay, based on the oxido-reduction of Alamar Blue(R). The obtained activities showed that these two compounds were able to inhibit the in vitro growth of the amoebae at relatively low concentrations. Further identification of the molecular targets of these products and their effects on acanthamoebae should be determined to evaluate their possible therapeutic use.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martín-Navarro
authors.forename: Atteneri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Arencibia
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oramas-Royo
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Molina
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estévez-Braun
authors.forename: Angel G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ravelo
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piñero
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029753:Celastraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D003035:Cobalt / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C541832:cyperotundone; D003035:Cobalt; C008252:lapachol