title: [In vivo antiplasmodial activity of Mycale laxissima and Clathria echinata sponges].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the search of new antimalarial compounds comprises, among its challenges, the development of therapeutic alternatives for cerebral malaria; due to the high mortality and neurological deficiencies that persist after treatment with recommended drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the activity of organic fractions of Mycale laxissima and Clathria echinata in the cerebral malaria model of infection of C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA.
  
  
  METHODS
  preparative fractions of both species were obtained by reverse-phase flash chromatography. In order to detect the presence of saponins, triterpenods/steroids and alkaloids, a qualitative chemical analysis was performed. The schyzontocidal effect of the extracts was determined by the suppression test at the beginning of the infection. Survival, neurological symptoms and body weight changes were evaluated in subsequent days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the organic fractions of Mycale laxissima at 200 mg/kg and Clathria echinata at 100 mg/kg showed neither substantial reductions of body weights, nor deaths of animals until day 4; but caused significant reductions of median parasitemia of 45 % and 53 % respectively. The fraction of Mycale laxissima at 200 mg/kg caused a significant increase in the median survival time up to day 20, whereas animals treated with Clathria echinata at 100 mg/kg presented a survival of 16 days. Both increases the survival time 7 days. Neurological alterations were not observed in the groups treated with organic fractions when compared to the control group. This survival extension was similar to the effect of administration of 7.5 mg/kg of chloroquine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the organic fractions of Mycale laxissima and Clathria echinata exhibited promising antimalarial activities in the infection model of C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. This indicates that their active chemical constituents should be studied.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí", La Habana, Cuba. mendiola@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Mendiola Martínez
authors: C Erik Luis
authors: CE
authors: Regalado Veloz
authors: Aymé
authors: A
authors: Fernández-Calienes Valdés
authors: Deyanira
authors: D
authors: Acuña Rodríguez
authors: C Lázara
authors: CL
authors: Rojas Rivero
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Valdés Iglesias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000187:drug effects*; D011161:Porifera
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures