title: Leishmanicidal activity of Himatanthus sucuuba latex against Leishmania amazonensis.
abstract: Himatanthus sucuuba (HsL) latex exhibited a potent leishmanicidal activity against intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. HsL inhibited intracellular amastigote growth in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50)=15.7microg/mL). Moreover, HsL increased nitric oxide (NO) and Tumor Nuclear Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and decreased Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) production in macrophages. As assessed by plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity, HsL showed low toxicity for host macrophages. HsL in vivo was active by the oral route, reducing the parasite load in established footpad lesions after only five doses. In summary, these findings support HsL as an interesting candidate for further evaluations regarding its potential application as a therapeutical agent against Leishmania.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deivid C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Alexandre L S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Delorenzi
authors.forename: Jefferson R A
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Freire-de-Lima
authors.forename: Camila A B
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.forename: Angelo C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Bartira
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossi-Bergmann
authors.forename: Elvira M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Saraiva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007840:Latex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007840:Latex