title: Anti-Giardia activity of phenolic-rich essential oils: effects of Thymbra capitata, Origanum virens, Thymus zygis subsp. sylvestris, and Lippia graveolens on trophozoites growth, viability, adherence, and ultrastructure.
abstract: The present work evaluates the anti-Giardia activity of phenolic-rich essential oils obtained from Thymbra capitata, Origanum virens, Thymus zygis subsp. sylvestris chemotype thymol, and Lippia graveolens aromatic plants. The effects were evaluated on parasite growth, cell viability adherence, and morphology. The tested essential oils inhibited the growth of Giardia lamblia. T. capitata essential oil is the most active followed by O. virens, T. zygis subsp. sylvestris, and L. graveolens oils. The tested essential oils at IC50 (71-257) microg/ml inhibited parasite adherence (p < 0.001) since the first hour of incubation and were able to kill almost 50% of the parasites population in a time-dependent manner. The main ultrastructural alterations promoted by essential oils were deformations in typical trophozoite appearance, often roundly shape, irregular dorsal and ventral surface, presence of membrane blebs, electrodense precipitates in cytoplasm and nuclei, and internalization of flagella and ventral disc. Our data suggest that essential oils induced cell death probably by processes associated to the loss of osmoregulation caused by plasmatic membrane alterations. Experiments revealed that the essential oils did not present cytotoxic effects in mammalian cells. In conclusion, T. capitata, O. virens, T. zygis subsp. sylvestris chemotype thymol, and L. graveolens essential oils have antigiardial activity in vitro and seem to have potential for the treatment of the parasitic disease caused by the protozoan G. lamblia.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia/CEF, Universidade de Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3030-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Augusto M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dinis
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavaleiro
authors.forename: José B A
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.forename: Maria do Céu
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D032411:Lippia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010636:Phenols