title: Antiproliferative effect and ultrastructural alterations induced by psilostachyin on Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: The effect of psilostachyin, a natural sesquiterpene lactone, on the growth and viability of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen) is reported. The antiproliferative effect was evaluated by counting the parasites in a Neubauer chamber and measuring their viability by using the dye exclusion technique. The effect on parasite growth was irreversible at concentrations higher than 1.0 microg/mL and the addition of glutathione only partially blocked the effect of the compound. Moreover, we have studied the effects of this natural compound on parasite ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. Interestingly, psilostachyin induced ultrastructural alterations on the parasites at a concentration of 0.5 microg/mL, with important mitochondrial swelling and deformity of the kinetoplast.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, IQUIMEFA (UBA-CONICET), Junín 956 (1113), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sülsen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muschietti
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010271:Parasites / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D005978:Glutathione