nsc-4347 and Leishmaniasis

Current treatment guidelines for leishmaniasis is based on chemotherapy with drugs that show a set of limitations such as high cost, toxicity, difficult route of administration, and lack of efficacy in endemic areas. In this context, phytopharmaceutical products and herbal medicines emerge as promising alternatives for developing new treatment against leishmaniasis. This review discusses the perspectives of leishmaniasis treatment based on natural products and phytotherapy highlighting the Piper genus, especially P. aduncun and P. mollicomum Kunth covering the period of 1998 to 2020. Leishmanicidal activity of pure compounds of Piper spp. [3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) propanoic acid, 3-chlorosintenpyridone, 2'-hydroxy-3',4',6'-trimethoxy-chalcone, cardamonin, conocarpan, cubebin, eupomatenoid, flavokavain B, ( +)-(7R,8S)-epoxy-5,6-didehydrokavain, N-[7-(3',4'-methylenedioxypheny l-2(E),4(E)-heptadienoyl-pyrrolidine, N-[7-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2(Z),4(Z)-heptadienoyl-pyrrolidine, piperovatine, pellitorine, and piplartine (piperlongumine)] were proved against the promastigote and amastigote forms of parasite related with cutaneous (L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (V.) braziliensis, and L. (V.) guyanensis) and visceral (L. (L.) donovani, L. (L.) chagasi, and L. (L.) infantum). We also discussed the perspective of leishmaniasis treatment, considering the potential synergism between different promising species of Piper, presenting some interesting interaction possibilities for future studies between plants. Finally, the necessary steps for technological development of phytomedicines and herbal medicines with the desirable quality requirements for medicines are highlighted. The data presented here highlight the use of Piper spp. as source of pharmacological compounds that can lead to effective, safe, and inexpensive treatments for leishmaniasis.

Topics: Antiprotozoal Agents; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Piper

Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Humans; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oils, Volatile; Piper

Protozoans of the trypanosomatid family cause the neglected tropical diseases leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, for which few drugs are available. In this context our group has recently reported that the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the fruits of Piper cubeba is active against Schistosoma mansoni. Therefore, we have investigated the in vitro effects of the essential oil against the trypomastigote and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from an LLCMK₂ cell line culture and the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The in vitro activity of the essential oil against trypomastigotes of T. cruzi increased upon rising concentrations, giving IC₅₀ values of 45.5 and 87.9 µg · mL⁻¹ against trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The essential oil was not active against L. amazonensis, since it displayed lyses of only 24 % at 400 µg · mL⁻¹, and an IC₅₀ of 326.5 µg · mL⁻¹. Therefore, the essential oil should be further investigated to determine the compounds responsible for the observed activities, as well as its mechanism of action.

Topics: Antiparasitic Agents; Cell Line; Fruit; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Life Cycle Stages; Macrophages; Oils, Volatile; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Piper; Plant Extracts; Trypanosoma cruzi

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania which affects 12 million people worldwide. The discovery of drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis is a pressing concern in global health programs. The aim of this study aim was to evaluate the leishmanicidal effect of piperine and its derivatives/analogues on Leishmania amazonensis. Our results showed that piperine and phenylamide are active against promastigotes and amastigotes in infected macrophages. Both drugs induced mitochondrial swelling, loose kinetoplast DNA, and led to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The promastigote cell cycle was also affected with an increase in the G1 phase cells and a decrease in the S-phase cells, respectively, after piperine and phenylamide treatment. Lipid analysis of promastigotes showed that piperine reduced triglyceride, diacylglycerol, and monoacylglycerol contents, whereas phenylamide only reduced diacylglycerol levels. Both drugs were deemed non toxic to macrophages at 50 μM as assessed by XTT (sodium 2,3,-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)-carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium inner salt), Trypan blue exclusion, and phagocytosis assays, whereas low toxicity was noted at concentrations higher than 150 μM. None of the drugs induced nitric oxide (NO) production. By contrast, piperine reduced NO production in activated macrophages. The isobologram analysis showed that piperine and phenylamide acted synergistically on the parasites suggesting that they affect different target mechanisms. These results indicate that piperine and its phenylamide analogue are candidates for development of drugs for cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment.

Topics: Alkaloids; Amides; Benzodioxoles; Cell Cycle; Fruit; Glycerides; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Lipid Metabolism; Macrophages; Mitochondria; Nitric Oxide; Phytotherapy; Piper; Piperidines; Plant Extracts; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Trypanocidal Agents

Infection with Leishmania spp. causes a disease with multifaceted clinical manifestations in humans. The treatment for leishmaniasis is dependent on a limited range of drugs. Here we investigated the antileishmanial activity of eupomatenoid-5, a neolignan isolated from leaves of Piper regnellii var. pallescens. We showed that eupomatenoid-5 had a dose-dependent activity during 72h of treatment, exhibiting IC(50) of 9.0microg/mL and 13.0microg/mL for promastigote and axenic amastigote forms, respectively, and IC(50) of 5.0microg/mL for intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. When L. amazonensis was treated with eupomatenoid-5, it underwent considerable ultrastructural alterations, as shown by transmission electron microscopy. Among the alterations was the appearance of intense exocytic activity in the region of the flagellar pocket, myelin-like figures, and vacuoles in the cytoplasm of parasites treated with 9.0microg/mL. Cells treated with 25.0microg/mL showed a very large structure, apparently an extension of the endoplasmic reticulum. Also, mitochondrial swelling was detected at this concentration, indicating damage and significant change in this organelle. A cytotoxicity assay showed that the action of the isolated compound is more specific for protozoa and it is not toxic to macrophages. Our studies indicated that eupomatenoid-5 might be a potential new drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis, because this compound displays interesting antileishmanial activity in vitro against promastigote, axenic amastigote, and intracellular amastigote forms of L. amazonensis.

Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Benzofurans; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Macrophages; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Phenols; Piper; Plant Leaves

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important parasitic infections, but current treatments are unsatisfactory due to their toxicity, cost and resistance. Therefore, the development of new antileishmanial compounds is imperative. Many people who live in endemic areas use plants as an alternative to treat the disease. In this paper, we characterised the essential oil from Piper auritum, evaluated its cytotoxicity and determined its antileishmanial activity. The chromatogram obtained by gas chromatography revealed 60 peaks and we found that safrole was the most abundant compound, composing 87% of the oil. The oil was active against the promastigotes of Leishmania major, Leishmania mexicana, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania donovani with a favourable selectivity index against peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. The Piper-oil inhibited the growing of intracellular amastigotes of L. donovani with an IC50 value of 22.3 +/- 1.8 microg/mL. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the essential oils as a promising alternative to treat leishmaniasis.

Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Leishmaniasis; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oils, Volatile; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Piper; Plant Oils

The kavapyrone (+)-(7 R,8 S)-epoxy-5,6-didehydrokavain (1) and the chalcone flavokavain B (2) were isolated from Piper rusbyi as the bioactive components by bioassay-guided fractionation, using an in vitro assay against promastigote forms of three Leishmania strains. In addition, the new kavapyrone, (7 R,8 R/7 S,8 S)-dihydroxy-5,6-didehydrokavain (3), which is very likely an artifact, and four known compounds (4-7) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 3 were established by CD studies and the modified Mosher ester procedure, respectively. All compounds were evaluated for in vitro leishmanicidal activity. The most active compounds 1 (IC50=81.9 microM) and 2 (IC50=11.2 microM) were also evaluated in vivo against a New World strain of cutaneous leishmaniasis, and the results showed the efficacy of 2 at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day. Compounds 1 and 3 were also assayed as reversal agents against a multidrug-resistant Leishmania tropica line, but were found to be inactive.

Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Phytotherapy; Piper; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves