title: Antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans strains and genotoxicity assessment in human leukocyte cells of Euphorbia tirucalli L.
abstract: In the last times, focus on plant research has increased all over the world. Euphorbia tirucalli L., a plant known popularly as Aveloz, and originally used in Africa, has been drawing attention for its use in the United States and Latin America, both for use as an ornamental plant and as a medicinal plant. E. tirucalli L. is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae and contains many diterpenoids and triterpenoids, in particular phorbol esters, apparently the main constituent of this plant, which are assumed to be responsible for their activities in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro antifungal activities of Euphorbia tirucalli (L.) against opportunistic yeasts were studied using microbroth dilution assay. The results showed that aqueous extract and latex preparation were effective against ten clinical strains of Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro (Latex and extract MIC range of 3.2 - > 411 μg/mL). Aiming the safe use in humans, the genotoxic effects of E. tirucalli were evaluated in human leukocytes cells. Our data show that both aqueous extract and latex preparation have no genotoxic effect in human leukocytes cells in vitro. Although the results cannot be extrapolated by itself for use in vivo, they suggest a good perspective for a therapeutic application in future. In conclusion, our results show that the aqueous extract and latex preparation from E. tirucalli L. are antifungal agents effectives against several strains of C. neoformans and do not provoke DNA damage in human leukocyte cells, considering the concentrations tested.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia Universidade Federal do Pampa UruguaianaRS Brazil Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luís Flávio Souza
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. ; Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Meneghello
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fuentefria
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto AlegreRS Brazil Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda da Silva
authors.initials: Fda S
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia Universidade Federal do Pampa UruguaianaRS Brazil Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel Mansur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; Euphorbia tirucalli L.; antifungal; aveloz