Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis

Leishmaniasis, an endemic parasitosis that leads to chronic cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral lesions, is part of those diseases, which still requires improved control tools. Propolis has shown activities against different bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In this study we investigated the effect o...

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Main Authors: Diana Copi Ayres, Maria Cristina Marcucci, Selma Giorgio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) 2007-03-01
Series:Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762007000200015
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author Diana Copi Ayres
Maria Cristina Marcucci
Selma Giorgio
author_facet Diana Copi Ayres
Maria Cristina Marcucci
Selma Giorgio
author_sort Diana Copi Ayres
collection DOAJ
description Leishmaniasis, an endemic parasitosis that leads to chronic cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral lesions, is part of those diseases, which still requires improved control tools. Propolis has shown activities against different bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In this study we investigated the effect of four ethanolic extracts of typified propolis collected in different Brazilian states, on Leishmania amazonensis performing assays with promastigote forms, extracellular amastigotes, and on infected peritoneal macrophages. Ethanolic extracts of all propolis samples (BRG, BRPG, BRP-1, and BRV) were capable to reduce parasite load as monitored by the percentage of infected macrophages and the number of intracellular parasites. BRV sample called red propolis, collected in the state of Alagoas, and containing high concentration of prenylated and benzophenones compounds, was the most active extract against L. amazonensis. The anti-Leishmania effect of BRV sample was increased in a concentration and time dependent manner. BRV treatment proved to be non-toxic to macrophage cultures. Since BRV extract at the concentration of 25 µg/ml reduced the parasite load of macrophages while presented no direct toxic to promastigotes and extracellular amastigotes, it was suggested that constituents of propolis intensify the mechanism of macrophage activation leading to killing of L. amazonensis. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis reduce L. amazonensis infection in macrophages, and encourage further studies of this natural compound in animal models of leishmaniasis.
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spelling doaj.art-601fd9335df94456b421a849eca75be52023-09-02T13:54:07ZengFundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz0074-02761678-80602007-03-011022215220Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensisDiana Copi AyresMaria Cristina MarcucciSelma GiorgioLeishmaniasis, an endemic parasitosis that leads to chronic cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral lesions, is part of those diseases, which still requires improved control tools. Propolis has shown activities against different bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In this study we investigated the effect of four ethanolic extracts of typified propolis collected in different Brazilian states, on Leishmania amazonensis performing assays with promastigote forms, extracellular amastigotes, and on infected peritoneal macrophages. Ethanolic extracts of all propolis samples (BRG, BRPG, BRP-1, and BRV) were capable to reduce parasite load as monitored by the percentage of infected macrophages and the number of intracellular parasites. BRV sample called red propolis, collected in the state of Alagoas, and containing high concentration of prenylated and benzophenones compounds, was the most active extract against L. amazonensis. The anti-Leishmania effect of BRV sample was increased in a concentration and time dependent manner. BRV treatment proved to be non-toxic to macrophage cultures. Since BRV extract at the concentration of 25 µg/ml reduced the parasite load of macrophages while presented no direct toxic to promastigotes and extracellular amastigotes, it was suggested that constituents of propolis intensify the mechanism of macrophage activation leading to killing of L. amazonensis. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis reduce L. amazonensis infection in macrophages, and encourage further studies of this natural compound in animal models of leishmaniasis.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762007000200015Leishmania amazonensisleishmaniasisnatural productspropolis
spellingShingle Diana Copi Ayres
Maria Cristina Marcucci
Selma Giorgio
Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Leishmania amazonensis
leishmaniasis
natural products
propolis
title Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
title_full Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
title_fullStr Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
title_short Effects of Brazilian propolis on Leishmania amazonensis
title_sort effects of brazilian propolis on leishmania amazonensis
topic Leishmania amazonensis
leishmaniasis
natural products
propolis
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762007000200015
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AT selmagiorgio effectsofbrazilianpropolisonleishmaniaamazonensis