title: In vitro evaluation of photodynamic therapy using curcumin on Leishmania major and Leishmania braziliensis.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by the Leishmania protozoan. The conventional treatment is long-lasting and aggressive, in addition to causing harmful effect. Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising alternative treatment, which allows local administration with fewer side effects. This study investigated the photodynamic activity of curcumin on Leishmania major and Leishmania braziliensis promastigote. Both species were submitted to incubation with curcumin in serial dilutions from 500 μg/ml up to 7.8 μg/ml. Control groups were kept in the dark while PDT groups received a fluency of 10 J/cm(2) at 450 nm. Mitochondrial activity was assessed by MTT assay 18 h after light treatment, and viability was measured by Trypan blue dye exclusion test. Morphological alterations were observed by Giemsa staining. Confocal microscopy showed the uptake of curcumin by both tested Leishmania species. Mitochondrial activity was inconclusive to determine viability; however, Trypan blue test was able to show that curcumin photodynamic treatment had a significant effect on viability of parasites. The morphology of promastigotes was highly affected by the photodynamic therapy. These results indicated that curcumin may be a promising alternative photosensitizer, because it presents no toxicity in the dark; however, further tests in co-culture with macrophages and other species of Leishmania should be conducted to determine better conditions before in vivo tests are performed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Terapia Fotodinâmica, Instituto de Pesquisa e desenvolvimento, Univap-Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Guerra
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Terapia Fotodinâmica, Instituto de Pesquisa e desenvolvimento, Univap-Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Correa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Pesquisa e desenvolvimento, Univap-Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biofotônica, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, USP-Universidade de São Paulo, USP São Carlos-Campus 1, Avenida Trabalhador São-Carlense, 400 - Parque Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos, SP, 13566, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurachi
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Nanossensores, Instituto de Pesquisa e desenvolvimento, Univap-Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro José
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Raniero
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Terapia Fotodinâmica, Instituto de Pesquisa e desenvolvimento, Univap-Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil. juferreira@univap.br.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Strixino
mesh_terms: D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania braziliensis; Leishmania major; Photodynamic therapy