title: A novel triterpene from Astraeus hygrometricus induces reactive oxygen species leading to death in Leishmania donovani.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of astrakurkurone, a novel triterpene, isolated from Indian mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus has been investigated to elucidate the mechanisms involved in selective cell death of Leishmania donovani.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hypotheses were investigated using flow-cytometry, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time dependent elevation of astrakurkurone-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) was found intimately associated with apoptosis. The involvement of ROS in promastigote death was found confirmed as NAC and GSH could decrease the ROS level and restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)). It also inhibited the intracellular amastigotes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We claim the present invention as substantial in depth evidences that mushroom derived active molecules can be exploited as target specific, comparatively nontoxic leads for antileishmanial therapy.
authors.forename: Suvadip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.forename: Somaditya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Supratim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Aritri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Debarati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Gunjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Soumya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: 3CU BD Centre of Excellence for Nanobiotechnology, University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sanjaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Chemistry, Vidyasagar Evening College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Tapan Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Krishnendu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Chiranjib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pal
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014315:Triterpenes
keywords: Astraeus hygrometricus; Leishmania donovani; ROS; antileishmanial; apoptosis; mitochondrial dysfunction; mushroom; natural product; triterpene