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Planta Med 2013; 79(11): 952-958
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328712
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Toxicity of Oleoresins from the Genus Copaifera in Trypanosoma cruzi: A Comparative Study

Erika Izumi
1   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brazil
,
Tânia Ueda-Nakamura
2   Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá-PR, Brazil
,
Valdir F. Veiga-Júnior
3   Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus-AM, Brazil
,
Celso V. Nakamura
1   Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brazil
2   Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá-PR, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 October 2012
revised 11 May 2013

accepted 14 May 2013

Publication Date:
03 July 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Several members of the genus Copaifera are present in Latin America, mainly in the Amazon region. These plants produce oleoresins that are used by indigenous people for medicinal purposes, with no distinction among species. Their medicinal properties include the treatment of cutaneous ulcerations associated with leishmaniasis and wounds caused by insect bites. However, to date, no comparative studies of the antiparasitic activity of copaiba oleoresins from different species against Trypanosoma cruzi have been published. In the present study, copaiba oleoresins from eight species were evaluated for activity against T. cruzi, including observations of cytotoxic effects in mammalian cells and parasite cells. All of the copaiba oleoresins exerted effects on all parasite life stages, especially against the replicative forms. C. martii and C. officinalis exhibited the best activity. For intracellular amastigotes, the IC50 values varied from less than 5.0 µg/mL to 10.0 µg/mL. For epimastigotes and trypomastigotes, the maximum inhibition was obtained with IC50 values of 17.0 µg/mL and 97.0 µg/mL, respectively. Oleoresins showed moderate cytotoxicity to nucleated cells, 17.5 to 32.5 µg/mL being the concentration range needed to reduce the monolayer integrity by 50 %. Toxicity to erythrocytes was observed by a hemolytic effect of 50 % above 500 µg/mL for half of the oleoresins from different species. Different oleoresins caused lipid peroxidation, increased cell-membrane permeability and changed the mitochondrial potential. Ultrastructural changes were observed after the treatment of the intracellular amastigote forms of the parasite. The toxic potential differed among oleoresins from distinct copaiba species, which can influence medicinal efficacy. This is especially relevant for people who live far from medical assistance and depend on medicinal plants.

Key words

antiprotozoal activity - Copaifera - Fabaceae - oleoresin - Trypanosoma cruzi - Chagasʼ disease
 

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