In vitro screening of American plant extracts on Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 101 - 107
• Main Authors: Muelas-Serrano, S, Nogal, J.J, Martı́nez-Dı́az, R.A, Escario, J.A, Martı́nez-Fernández, A.R, Gómez-Barrio, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.07.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Americas; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacological screening; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Trichomonas vaginalis; Trichomonas vaginalis - drug effects; Trichomonas vaginalis - growth & development; Trypanocidal Agents - pharmacology; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Trypanosoma cruzi - growth & development; America; Americas; Trichomonas vaginalis; Pharmacological screening; Trypanosoma cruzi; Plant extracts; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Pharmacognosy; Extract; Trichomonadida; Screening test; In vitro; Biological activity; Medicinal plant; Antiprotozoal agent; Folk medicine; Parasiticid; Plant origin; Floral survey
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00185-3

From the beginning of this decade and with the revival of the phytotherapy, biological research about immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiprotozoal effects of Central and South American plants have been in progress. Our objective was to determine the antiprotozoal activity of 79 extracts from different plant families, including Asteraceae, Araceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae, Rhamnaceae, Zingiberaceae, Leguminosae and Sapotaceae. Once matching with herbarium specimens authenticated the plants, selected parts were separated, dried carefully and reduced to powder. Most of the screened extracts were aqueous. Two protozoa with different metabolic pathways, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis were used as experimental models. Trypanocidal activity of plants was assayed on epimastigote cultures in liver infusion tryptose (LIT). Anti- Trichomonas activity was determined over cultures of the parasite in Diamond medium. In both cases, microscopic counting of parasites, after their incubation in the presence of different concentrations of the crude extracts, were made in order to determine the cytocidal and cytostatic activities respect to control cultures. Of the nine extracts that showed antiprotozoal activity, those from Mikania cordifolia and Philodendron bipinnatifidum were then fractionated, and again, were assayed the organic and aqueous phases obtained.