Antileishmanial activity of a mixture of Tridax procumbens and Allium sativum in mice.
We tested a mixture of Tridax procumbens, known for its direct action against Leishmania mexicana, and Allium sativum, known for its immunomodulatory effect, as an alternative to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis. Acute oral toxicity was tested with the Up-and-Down Procedure (UDP) using a group of healthy mice administered with either T. procumbens or A. sativum extracts and compared with a control group. Liver injury and other parameters of toxicity were determined in mice at day 14. The in vivo assay was performed with mice infected with L. mexicana promastigotes and treated with either a mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum or each extract separately. The thickness of the mice's footpads was measured weekly. After the 12-week period of infection, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture to determine the total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a immunoglobulins by a noncommercial indirect ELISA. We showed that the mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum extracts was better at controlling L. mexicana infection while not being toxic when tested in the acute oral toxicity assay in mice. An increase in the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 indicated a tendency to raise a Th1-type immune response in mice treated with the mixture. The mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum extracts is a promising natural treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis and its healing effects make it a good candidate for a possible new phytomedicine.
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (CIR-UADY), Avenida Itzáes # 490 × Calle 59 Colonia Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Rubi
R
Gamboa-Leon
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (CIR-UADY), Avenida Itzáes # 490 × Calle 59 Colonia Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Marina
M
Vera-Ku
Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY), Calle 43 No. 130, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97200 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Sergio R
SR
Peraza-Sanchez
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (CIR-UADY), Avenida Itzáes # 490 × Calle 59 Colonia Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Carlos
C
Ku-Chulim
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (CIR-UADY), Avenida Itzáes # 490 × Calle 59 Colonia Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Aurelio
A
Horta-Baas
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (CIR-UADY), Avenida Itzáes # 490 × Calle 59 Colonia Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Miguel
M
Rosado-Vallado
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D019659:Asteraceae; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts