title: In vitro effects of citral on trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis.
abstract: Citral, the main constituent of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil, was added to Trypanosoma cruzi cultures grown in TAU3AAG medium to observe the effect on the epimastigote-to-trypomastigote differentiation process (metacyclogenesis). Our results showed that citral (20 μg/mL) did not affect epimastigote viability or inhibit the differentiation process. Concentrations higher than 60 μg/mL, however, led to 100% cell death (both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms). Although epimastigotes incubated with 30 μg/mL citral were viable and able to adhere to the substrate, we observed around 50% inhibition in metacyclogenesis, with a calculated concentration that inhibited metacyclogenesis by 50% after 24 h (IC50/24 h) of about 31 μg/mL. Treatment with 30 μg/mL citral did not hinder epimastigote multiplication because epimastigote growth resumed when treated cells were transferred to a drug-free liver infusion tryptose culture medium. Metacyclogenesis was almost totally abolished at 40 μg/mL after 24 h of incubation. Furthermore, the metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained in vitro were similarly susceptible to citral, with an IC50/24 h, concentration that killed 50% of the cells after 24 h, of about 24.5 μg/mL. Therefore, citral appears to be a good candidate as an inhibitory drug for further studies analyzing the T. cruzi metacyclogenesis process.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, 81350-010 Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Maurilio José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; C007076:citral