title: An overlooked horticultural crop, Smyrnium olusatrum, as a potential source of compounds effective against African trypanosomiasis.
abstract: Among natural products, sesquiterpenes have shown promising inhibitory effects against bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan parasite causing human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Smyrnium olusatrum (Apiaceae), also known as Alexanders or wild celery, is a neglected horticultural crop characterized by oxygenated sesquiterpenes containing a furan ring. In the present work we explored the potential of its essential oils obtained from different organs and the main oxygenated sesquiterpenes, namely isofuranodiene, germacrone and β-acetoxyfuranoeudesm-4(15)-ene, as inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei. All essential oils effectively inhibited the growth of parasite showing IC50values of 1.9-4.0μg/ml. Among the main essential oil constituents, isofuranodiene exhibited a significant and selective inhibitory activity against T. brucei (IC50of 0.6μg/ml, SI=30), with β-acetoxyfuranoeudesm-4(15)-ene giving a moderate potentiating effect. These results shed light on the possible application of isofuranodiene as an antiprotozoal agent to be included in combination treatments aimed not only at curing patients but also at preventing the diffusion of HAT.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ranjbarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dall'Acqua
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Romilde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iannarelli
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stephane L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ngahang Kamte
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Sauro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vittori
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy. Electronic address: filippo.maggi@unicam.it.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cappellacci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D041702:BALB 3T3 Cells; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005663:Furans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C017897:isofuranodiene; C048393:germacrone
keywords: Apiaceae; Essential oil; Isofuranodiene; Trypanosoma brucei; Wild celery