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. 2023 Feb;20(2):e202200689.
doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202200689. Epub 2023 Jan 16.

Antileishmanial Screening, Cytotoxicity, and Chemical Composition of Essential Oils: A Special Focus on Piper callosum Essential Oil

Andreza R Garcia  1 , Ana Claudia F Amaral  2 , Ana Clara B Maria  2 , Mariana M Paz  1 , Mariana M B Amorim  3 , Francisco C M Chaves  4 , Alane B Vermelho  5 , Dirlei Nico  5 , Igor A Rodrigues  1   6
Affiliations

Antileishmanial Screening, Cytotoxicity, and Chemical Composition of Essential Oils: A Special Focus on Piper callosum Essential Oil

Andreza R Garcia et al. Chem Biodivers. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Leishmania amazonensis is the etiological agent of tegumentary leishmaniasis, a disease characterized by the emergence of cutaneous and mucocutaneous ulcerated lesions that can evolve into severe destruction of skin tissue. Treatment of the disease is often accompanied by high toxicity and variable efficacy. Essential oils stand out for having diverse pharmacological properties. Here, we screened a panel of fourteen essential oils for their anti-L. amazonensis activity, cytotoxicity, and chemical profile. Lippia sidoides (LSEO) and Piper callosum (PCEO) oils displayed the best anti-promastigote and anti-amastigote activities with IC50 of 31 and 21 μg/ml, respectively. PCEO was the safest oil with a desirable selectivity index >10. In addition, PCEO showed no cytotoxicity against the VERO line and erythrocytes. PCEO-treated amastigotes displayed mitochondrial membrane depolarization and high levels of intracellular ROS. Safrole (54.72 %) was the main component of PCEO. The results described here highlight the use of essential oils to combat tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Keywords: Tegumentary leishmaniasis; antileishmanial activity; drug screening; drug selectivity; volatile oils.

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