The biological activity of piperovatine and piperlonguminine isolated from Piper ovatum Vahl on epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi

P Veiga-Santos; KJP Rocha; DR Silva; T Ueda-Nakamura; BP Dias Filho; SO Silva; DAG Cortez; CV Nakamura

doi:10.1055/s-0029-1234496

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

The biological activity of piperovatine and piperlonguminine isolated from Piper ovatum Vahl on epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi

P Veiga-Santos ¹, KJP Rocha ², DR Silva ¹, T Ueda-Nakamura ¹, BP Dias Filho ¹, SO Silva ³, DAG Cortez ¹, CV Nakamura ¹

¹Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá; 87020–900, Maringá – PR, Brasil
²Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina; 86055–990, Londrina – PR, Brasil
³Depto de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá; 87020–900, Maringá – PR, Brasil

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a debilitating disease that affects about 18 million people [1], causing the deaths of 45,000 patients annually [2]. The current treatment for this infection is very limited, and available drugs (Nifurtimox and Benznidazole) have many side effects [3]. Several studies of crude plant extracts have identified potential compounds to treat this disease. In this study was evaluated the effect of piperovatine and piperlonguminine isolated from Piper ovatum Vahl on epimastigote form of T. cruzi, in LIT medium during 5 days. Ultrastructural and morphological alterations were observed by electron microscopy. The piperovatine and piperlonguminine concentration which inhibit 50% of growth (IC₅₀) of epimastigotes were 11.5µg/ml and 17.0µg/ml, respectively. Epimastigotes treated with piperovatine were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde. For transmission electron microscopy, cells were post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in acetone, and embedded in Epon. Ultrathin sections were observed in Zeiss 900 TEM. For scanning electron microscopy, parasites were placed on a specimen support with poly-L-lysine, dehydrated in ethanol, critical-point dried in CO₂, coated with gold, and observed in a Shimadzu SS-550 SEM. The ultrastructural studies on the epimastigote showed alterations in the mitochondria and cytoplasmatic extraction, with multiple vacuoles. Observations by scanning electron microscopy revealed alterations in the shape and size of the epimastigotes. These findings add a new insight in the search for new antiprotozoal agents from natural sources.

Acknowledgements: This study was supported through grants from DECIT/SCTIE/MS and MCT by CNPq, FINEP, and CAPES.

References: [1] Salas, C. et al. (2008) Bioorgan. Med. Chem. 16:668–674.

[2] WHO, Control of Chagas Disease (2002).

[3] Menna-Barreto, R.F. et al. (2009) Micron 40:157–168.