title: Effect of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on the longevity and immune response of rats infected by Trypanosoma evansi.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tea tree oil (TTO - Melaleuca alternifolia) on hepatic and renal functions, and the immune response of rats infected by Trypanosoma evansi. A pilot study has shown that rats treated with TTO orally (1 ml kg(-1)) had increased survival rate without curative effect. In order to verify if increased longevity was related to a better immune response against T. evansi when using tea tree oil, a second experiment was conducted. Thus, twenty-four rats were divided into four groups. The groups A and B were composed of uninfected animals, and the groups C and D had rats experimentally infected by T. evansi. Animals from the groups B and D were treated orally with TTO (1 ml kg(-1)) for three days. Blood samples were collected to verify humoral response analysis for immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgG) and cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-1, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10) at days 0, 3, 5 and 15 post-infection (PI). TTO treatment caused changes in the immunoglobulins and cytokines profile, as well as the course of T. evansi infection in rats. It was found that the TTO was not toxic, i.e., hepatic and renal functions were not affected. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that TTO influences the levels of inflammatory mediators and has trypanocidal effect, increasing life expectancy of rats infected by T. evansi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Microbiology, Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Baldissera
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vaucher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto C V
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Pharmacology, UFSM, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta M M F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raqueli T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Raffin
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Graduate Program, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Lages, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Boligon
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Graduate Program, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Lages, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Margareth L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Athayde
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Animal Science Graduate Program, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Lages, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lenita M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: sgmonteiro@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Silvia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D031650:Melaleuca / Q000276:immunology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000276:immunology*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D020947:Tea Tree Oil; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Immunology system; TTO; Trypanocidal action; Trypanosoma evansi