Effects of essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., Lippia sidoides Cham., and Ocimum gratissimum L. on growth and ultrastructure of Leishmania chagasi promastigotes.

Authors: Oliveira VC,Moura DM,Lopes JA,de Andrade PP,da Silva NH,Figueiredo RC,
Address: Departamento de Química/CCN, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus da Ininga s/no, 64049-550, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
Journal: Parasitol Res.

Publication: 2009 Apr;104(5):1053-9. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-1288-6. Epub 2008 Dec 16.

abstract

The current therapy for Leishmaniasis, which affects annually about 2 million people, is far from satisfactory. All available drugs require parenteral administration and are potentially toxic. Plant essential oils have been traditionally used in folk medicine and appear as valuable alternative source for chemotherapeutic compounds. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Lippia sidoides, and Ocimum gratissimum on growth and ultrastructure of Leishmania chagasi promastigote forms. Steam distillation was used to isolate the essential oils, and their constituents were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. All essential oils showed in vitro inhibitory action on L. chagasi promastigotes growth in a dose-dependent way, with IC(50)/72 h of 45, 89, and 75 microg/mL for C. citratus, L. sidoides, and O. gratissimum, respectively. Drastic morphological alterations were observed in all essential oil-treated parasites, including cell swelling, accumulation of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, and increase of acidocalcisome volume. Furthermore, aberrant-shaped cells with multi-septate body were observed by scanning electron microscopy, suggesting an additional effect on cytokinesis. Taken together, our data show that these essential oils affect the parasite viability being the C. citratus essential oil the most effective against L. chagasi.

Related Articles
In vitro activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus and its major component (citral) on Leishmania amazonensis.
Parasitol Res. 2009
In vitro activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus and its major component (citral) on Leishmania amazonensis.
Santin MR, dos Santos AO, Nakamura CV, Dias Filho BP, Ferreira IC, Ueda-Nakamura T. Parasitol Res. 2009 Nov; 105(6):1489-96. Epub 2009 Aug 11.
Antileishmanial activity of Eugenol-rich essential oil from Ocimum gratissimum.
Parasitol Int. 2006
Antileishmanial activity of Eugenol-rich essential oil from Ocimum gratissimum.
Ueda-Nakamura T, Mendonça-Filho RR, Morgado-Díaz JA, Korehisa Maza P, Prado Dias Filho B, Aparício Garcia Cortez D, Alviano DS, Rosa Mdo S, Lopes AH, Alviano CS, et al. Parasitol Int. 2006 Jun; 55(2):99-105. Epub 2005 Dec 15.
In vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of essential oil from Lippia sidoides Cham.
Parasitol Int. 2011
In vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of essential oil from Lippia sidoides Cham.
de Medeiros Md, da Silva AC, Citó AM, Borges AR, de Lima SG, Lopes JA, Figueiredo RC. Parasitol Int. 2011 Sep; 60(3):237-41. Epub 2011 Mar 21.
Review The essential oil of Lippia alba: analysis of samples from French overseas departments and review of previous works.
Chem Biodivers. 2006
Review The essential oil of Lippia alba: analysis of samples from French overseas departments and review of previous works.
Hennebelle T, Sahpaz S, Dermont C, Joseph H, Bailleul F. Chem Biodivers. 2006 Oct; 3(10):1116-25.
Review Essential oil biosynthesis and regulation in the genus Cymbopogon.
Nat Prod Commun. 2010
Review Essential oil biosynthesis and regulation in the genus Cymbopogon.
Ganjewala D, Luthra R. Nat Prod Commun. 2010 Jan; 5(1):163-72.
Eugenia uniflora L. Essential Oil as a Potential Anti-Leishmania Agent: Effects on Leishmania amazonensis and Possible Mechanisms of Action.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013
Eugenia uniflora L. Essential Oil as a Potential Anti-Leishmania Agent: Effects on Leishmania amazonensis and Possible Mechanisms of Action.
Rodrigues KA, Amorim LV, de Oliveira JM, Dias CN, Moraes DF, Andrade EH, Maia JG, Carneiro SM, Carvalho FA. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013:279726. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

To top • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.