Brazilian Green Propolis : Effects In Vitro and In Vivo on Trypanosoma cruzi

الملخص EN

The composition of a Brazilian green propolis ethanolic extract (Et-Bra) and its effect on Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and other pathogenic microorganisms have already been reported.

Here, we further investigated Et-Bra targets in T.

cruzi and its effect on experimental infection of mice.

The IC50/4 days for inhibition of amastigote proliferation was 8.5 ± 1.8 μg mL−1, with no damage to the host cells.

In epimastigotes Et-Bra induced alterations in reservosomes, Golgi complex and mitochondrion.

These effects were confirmed by flow cytometry analysis.

In trypomastigotes, Et-Bra led to the loss of plasma membrane integrity.

The in vitro studies indicate that Et-Bra interferes in the functionality of the plasma membrane in trypomastigotes and of reservosomes and mitochondrion in epimastigotes.

Acutely infected mice were treated orally with Et-Bra and the parasitemia, mortality and GPT, GOT, CK and urea levels were monitored.

The extract (25–300 mg kg−1 body weight/day for 10 days) reduced the parasitemia, although not at significant levels; increased the survival of the animals and did not induce any hepatic, muscular lesion or renal toxicity.

Since Et-Bra was not toxic to the animals, it could be assayed in combination with other drugs.

Et-Bra could be a potential metacyclogenesis blocker, considering its effect on reservosomes, which are an important energy source during parasite differentiation.