Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels essential oil and its major constituent α-pinene exhibit anti-Leishmania activity through immunomodulation in vitro

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae), commonly known as “jambolão” in Brazil is widely used in folk medicine against leishmaniasis, inflammation, chronic diarrhea, and ulcers. It is one of the most commonly used plants for the treatment of diabetes worldwide. In previous studies, Syzygium cumini...

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Published in:Journal of ethnopharmacology 2015-02, Vol.160, p.32-40
Main Authors: Rodrigues, Klinger Antonio da Franca, Amorim, Layane Valéria, Dias, Clarice Noleto, Moraes, Denise Fernandes Coutinho, Carneiro, Sabrina Maria Portela, Carvalho, Fernando Aécio de Amorim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Leishmania
Cell Proliferation - drug effects
Cell Survival - drug effects
Erythrocytes - drug effects
Essential oil
Female
Humans
Immunomodulation - drug effects
Immunomodulatory activity
Inhibitory Concentration 50
Leishmania - cytology
Leishmania - drug effects
Leishmania amazonensis
Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects
Male
Mice
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Monoterpenes - adverse effects
Monoterpenes - pharmacology
Myrtaceae
Oils, Volatile - adverse effects
Oils, Volatile - pharmacology
Syzygium
Syzygium cumini
Trypanosoma
α-Pinene
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Summary:Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae), commonly known as “jambolão” in Brazil is widely used in folk medicine against leishmaniasis, inflammation, chronic diarrhea, and ulcers. It is one of the most commonly used plants for the treatment of diabetes worldwide. In previous studies, Syzygium cumini was shown to possess antihyperlipidemic and anti-allergic properties, and to exhibit good performance as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria, fungi, and protozoa parasites of the genus Leishmania and Trypanosoma. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of S. cumini essential oil (ScEO) and its major component α-pinene on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, as well as their cytotoxicity and possible mechanisms of action. To evaluate the anti-proliferative effect on Leishmania, effects on promastigote and axenic amastigote forms were assessed using tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay. The intramacrophagic amastigotes were exposed to ScEO and α-pinene to determine the survival index. To gain insight into the mechanism of action involved in the effect on the samples, we evaluated the modulation of macrophage activation state by observing structural (phagocytic and lysosomal activities) and cellular (nitric oxide increase) changes. To assess the safety profile of ScEO and α-pinene, murine macrophages and human red blood cells were treated with ScEO and α-pinene and the selectivity index was calculated for each treatment. α-Pinene was effective against Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 19.7µg/mL. α-Pinene was more active (IC50 values of 16.1 and 15.6µg/mL against axenic and intracellular amastigotes, respectively) than ScEO (IC50 values of 43.9 and 38.1µg/mL against axenic and intracellular amastigotes, respectively). Our results showed that the anti-Leishmania effects were mediated by immunomodulatory activity, as evidenced by the observed increases in both phagocytic and lysosomal activity, and the elevated NO levels. ScEO and α-pinene exhibited low cytotoxicity against murine macrophages and human erythrocytes. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) values for the macrophages in the MTT assay were 614.1 and 425.2µg/mL for ScEO and α-pinene, respectively, while the corresponding half-maximal hemolytic concentration (HC50) values were 874.3 and 233.3µg/mL. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ScEO and its major constituent α-pinene have significant anti-Leishmania activity, modulate
ISSN:0378-8741
1872-7573
DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.024