lychnopholide and Cardiotoxicity

Chagas disease is a neglected parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. New antitrypanosomal options are desirable to prevent complications, including a high rate of cardiomyopathy. Recently, a natural substance, lychnopholide, has shown therapeutic potential, especially when encapsulated in biodegradable polymeric nanocapsules. However, little is known regarding possible adverse effects of lychnopholide. Here we show that repeated-dose intravenous administration of free lychnopholide (2.0 mg/kg/day) for 20 days caused cardiopathy and mortality in healthy C57BL/6 mice. Echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with preserved ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction and chamber dilatation at end-stage. Single cardiomyocytes presented altered contractility and Ca

Topics: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Calcium; Calcium Signaling; Cardiotonic Agents; Cardiotoxicity; Chagas Disease; Echocardiography; Lactones; Male; Mice; Molecular Imaging; Mortality; Myocytes, Cardiac; Nanocapsules; Polymers; Sesquiterpenes; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosoma cruzi