title: Potential utility of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and propolis in enhancing the leishmanicidal activity of glucantime.
abstract: In this study we investigated the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, alone or combined with the pentavalent antimonial glucantime on Leishmania amazonensis infection. In parallel, the effect of Brazilian red propolis gel (propain) alone or combined with glucantime on L. amazonensis infection was evaluated. The inhibition of the infection in macrophages treated with glucantime in combination with HBO exposition was greater than that of macrophages treated with glucantime alone or HBO alone. The susceptible mouse strain BALB/c infected in the shaved rump with L. amazonensis treated with glucantime and exposed to HBO showed: time points in the course of the disease in which lesions were smaller than those of mice treated with glucantime alone and revascularization of the skin in the lesion site; interferon-gamma (IFN-g) levels were not elevated in lymph node cells from these animals. Propain alone was not efficient against lesions, although less exudative lesions were observed in animals treated with propain alone or combined with glucantime. These results reveal the potential value of HBO and red propolis in combination with glucantime for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis and encourage further studies on the effect of more aggressive HBO, propolis and glucantime therapies on different mouse models of leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, 13083-970.
authors.forename: Diana Copi
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ayres
authors.forename: Thiago Antonio
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marcucci
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giorgio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D007894:Leishmania mexicana; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D011429:Propolis