title: Evaluation of the in vivo therapeutic properties of (-)-cubebin and (-)-hinokinin against Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Even though the Chagas' disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, was described 100years ago by Carlos Chagas, it still represents a major public health concern and is found in 18 developing countries in South and Central America. In Brazil, Benznidazole (Rochagan) is the only drug with trypanocidal activity available in the market, despite its several side effects and limited efficacy in the chronic phase of the infection. In view of the need for new substances displaying biological activity against T. cruzi, there has been growing interest in research toward the attainment of compounds capable of acting on the parasite while being devoid of serious side effects. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic activity of dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans (-)-cubebin and (-)-hinokinin during the acute phase of infection by T. cruzi. As a study criterion, animals with acute parasitemia were investigated by tissue morphometric analysis. There was significant parasitemia reduction in the groups of animals treated with (-)-cubebin or (-)-hinokin oral administration, compared to the negative control. Values close to those of the uninfected control were found in the groups treated with (-)-cubebin and (-)-hinokinin via kariometry, showing that there was positive cellular response compared to the infected control.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas da Universidade de Franca, Av. Dr. Armando Salles Oliveira, 201-Cx. Postal 82-Pq. Universitário, 14404-600 Franca, SP, Brazil. vivianeesperandim@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Viviane Rodrigues
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Esperandim
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: da Silva Ferreira
authors.forename: Karen Cristina Souza
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Wilson Roberto
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.forename: Jairo Kenupp
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Márcio Luis Andrade
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: e Silva
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031701:Piper / Q000737:chemistry; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D052117:Benzodioxoles; D004149:Dioxoles; D017705:Lignans; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C475934:hinokinin; C433065:cubebin; D015107:4-Butyrolactone; C009999:benzonidazole