title: Morinda citrifolia Linn. Reduces Parasite Load and Modulates Cytokines and Extracellular Matrix Proteins in C57BL/6 Mice Infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis.
abstract: The absence of an effective vaccine and the debilitating chemotherapy for Leishmaniasis demonstrate the need for developing alternative treatments. Several studies conducted with Morinda citrifolia have shown various biological activities, including antileishmanial activity, however its mechanisms of action are unknown. This study aimed to analyze the in vivo activity of M. citrifolia fruit juice (Noni) against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in C57BL/6 mice. M. citrifolia fruit juice from the Brazilian Amazon has shown the same constitution of other juices produced around the world and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified five compounds: deacetylasperulosidic acid, asperulosidic acid, rutin, nonioside B and nonioside C. Daily intragastric treatment with Noni was carried out after 55 days of L. (L.) amazonensis infection in C57BL/6 mice. Parasitic loads, cytokine and extracellular protein matrix expressions of the lesion site were analyzed by qPCR. Histopathology of the lesion site, lymph nodes and liver were performed to evaluate the inflammatory processes. Cytokines and biochemical parameters of toxicity from sera were also evaluated. The Noni treatment at 500 mg.kg-1.day-1 for 60 days decreased the lesion size and parasitic load in the footpad infected with L. (L.) amazonensis. The site of infection also showed decreased inflammatory infiltrates and decreased cytokine expressions for IL-12, TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-10. On the other hand, Noni treatment enhanced the extracellular matrix protein expressions of collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin in the infected footpad as well collagen I and II, fibronectin and laminin in the mock-infected footpads. No toxicity was observed at the end of treatment. These data show the efficacy of Noni treatment.
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Almeida-Souza
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Flávia de Oliveira
authors: Fde O
authors: Cardoso
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Bruno Vinicius da Conceição
authors: BV
authors: Souza
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Tânia Zaverucha
authors: TZ
authors: do Valle
authors: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors: Joicy Cortez
authors: JC
authors: de Sá
authors: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors: Iara Dos Santos da Silva
authors: Idos S
authors: Oliveira
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Celeste da Silva Freitas
authors: Cda S
authors: de Souza
authors: Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Farmanguinhos-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Carla Junqueira
authors: CJ
authors: Moragas Tellis
authors: Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Farmanguinhos-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Maria do Socorro Dos Santos
authors: Mdo S
authors: Chagas
authors: Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Farmanguinhos-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Maria Dutra
authors: MD
authors: Behrens
authors: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors: Ana Lúcia
authors: AL
authors: Abreu-Silva
authors: Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Kátia da Silva
authors: Kda S
authors: Calabrese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032066:Morinda / Q000737:chemistry*; D059208:Parasite Load; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins