title: Arrabidaea chica hexanic extract induces mitochondrion damage and peptidase inhibition on Leishmania spp.
abstract: Currently available leishmaniasis treatments are limited due to severe side effects. Arrabidaea chica is a medicinal plant used in Brazil against several diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of 5 fractions obtained from the crude hexanic extract of A. chica against Leishmania amazonensis and L. infantum, as well as on the interaction of these parasites with host cells. Promastigotes were treated with several concentrations of the fractions obtained from A. chica for determination of their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, the effect of the most active fraction (B2) on parasite's ultrastructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the inhibitory activity of B2 fraction on Leishmania peptidases, parasites lysates were treated with the inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations of the B2 fraction. The minimum inhibitory concentration of B2 fraction was 37.2 and 18.6 μg/mL for L. amazonensis and L. infantum, respectively. Important ultrastructural alterations as mitochondrial swelling with loss of matrix content and the presence of vesicles inside this organelle were observed in treated parasites. Moreover, B2 fraction was able to completely inhibit the peptidase activity of promastigotes at pH 5.5. The results presented here further support the use of A. chica as an interesting source of antileishmanial agents.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 219491-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação Ciências dos Alimentos, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana M B
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, CP 319, 69010-970 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco C M
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celuta S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alviano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alviano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alane B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vermelho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007891:Leishmania / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide