Epoxy-α-lapachone has in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis effects and inhibits serine proteinase activity in this parasite.

ABSTRACT: Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is a protozoan that causes infections with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The currently available chemotherapeutic treatments present many problems, such as several adverse side effects and the development of resistant strains. Natural compounds have been investigated as potential antileishmanial agents, and the effects of epoxy-α-lapachone on L. (L.) amazonensis were analyzed in the present study. This compound was able to cause measurable effects on promastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite, affecting plasma membrane organization and leading to death after 3 h of exposure. This compound also had an effect in experimentally infected BALB/c mice, causing reductions in paw lesions 6 weeks after treatment with 0.44 mM epoxy-α-lapachon

SUBMITTER: Souza-Silva F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4356828 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature