Evaluation of the hydroalcoholic extract of Clarisia racemosa as an antiparasitic agent: an in vitro approach

Abstract

Clarisia racemosa Ruiz & Pav is a neotropical species found in humid forests from southern Mexico to southern Brazil. There are few studies related to the ethnopharmacological use of C. racemosa. Our objective was to evaluate the hydroalcoholic extract of C. racemosa as a potential antiparasitic agent. For this, we performed in vitro assays against strains of Leishmania amazonensis, Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Schistosoma mansoni. At the same time, immunomodulatory activity tests were carried out. The results demonstrated that the extract was able to stimulate and activate immune cells. In preliminary antiparasitic tests, structural modifications were observed in the promastigote form of L. amazonensis and in adult worms of S. mansoni. The extract was able to inhibit the growth of trypomastigote form of T. cruzi and finally showed low antiparasitic activity against strains of P. falciparum. It is pioneering work and these results demonstrate that C. racemosa extract is a promising alternative and contributes to the arsenal of possible forms of treatment to combat parasites.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03799-2.

Keywords: Amazon forest; Antiparasitic agent; Clarisia racemosa; Natural products.

Fig. 1

Viability results promoted by hydroalcoholic extract of C. racemosa against splenocyte cells from mice evaluated by labeling with annexin V and propidium iodide. Horizontal bars represent the average of two independent experiments performed in triplicate

Fig. 2

Scanning electron micrographs for the promastigotes forms of L. amazonensis without treatment (A) and treated with amphotericin B (IC₅₀ of 0.15 ± 0.01 µg/mL) (B) and with the hydroalcoholic extract of C. racemosa (IC₅₀ of 95.7 ± 0.2 µg/mL) (C) for 72 h, respectively

Fig. 3

Transmission electron micrographs for the promastigotes forms of L. amazonensis without treatment (A) and treated with amphotericin B (IC₅₀ of 0.15 ± 0.01 µg/mL) (B) and with the hydroalcoholic extract of C. racemosa (IC₅₀ of 95.7 ± 0.2 µg/mL) (C) for 72 h, respectively

Fig. 4

A–D SEM images of untreated S. mansoni adult worms after 24 h of observation. A Oral sucker (OS) and ventral sucker (VS) of adult female worm. B Parallel fissures (F) and spines C gynecophoric channel (GC) of adult male worm D Tubercles (TU) with spicules (S). SEM images of S. mansoni treated with praziquantel (10 μM) after 24 h of observation. E Adult male worms showing body with muscle contraction (arrow). F Severe damage to the integument, with the appearance of bursting blisters (BB) with loss of spicules. G Adult female worms showing contorted body (C), H Integument swelling (IS)

Fig. 5

A–D SEM images of adult worms of S. mansoni treated with hydroalcoholic extract of C. racemosa (200 µg/mL) after 24 h of observation. A Adult male worms with muscle contraction and gynecophoric canal (GC). B Gynecophoric channel (GC), extensive disintegration of the integument (TD), erosions (ER) with appearance and blisters (BU), throughout the body. D Female worms with extensive tegument disintegration (TD) and erosions (ER), with appearance and blisters (BB), subcutaneous tissue (TS)