title: Bioassay guided isolation and identification of anti-Acanthamoeba compounds from Tunisian olive leaf extracts.
abstract: Pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains are causative agents of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE) and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) worldwide. The existence of the cyst stage complicates Acanthamoeba therapy as it is highly resistant to antibiotics and physical agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of Limouni olive leaf cultivar against the trophozoite stage of Acanthamoeba. The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of this variety were tested against Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff. The ethyl acetate extract of olive leaf was the most active showing an IC50 of 5.11±0.71μg/ml of dry extract. Bio-guided fractionation of this extract was conducted and led to the identification of three active compounds namely oleanolic and maslinic acids and oleuropein which could be used for the development of novel therapeutic approaches against Acanthamoeba infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P. 51, 2070 La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunisia. Electronic address: ines.sifaoui@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sifaoui
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Atteneri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Arencibia
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ticona
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martín-Navarro
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes-Batlle
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P. 51, 2070 La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mejri
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Morales
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio Ignacio
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valladares
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lopez-Bazzocchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P. 51, 2070 La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Manef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abderabba
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, University of La Laguna, Avda Francisco Sanchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38271 la Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Piñero
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001681:Biological Assay; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Acanthamoeba; Bioassay fractionation; Chemotherapy; Olive leaf extract