Reactive oxygen species production by quercetin causes the death of Leishmania amazonensis intracellular amastigotes

J Nat Prod. 2013 Aug 23;76(8):1505-8. doi: 10.1021/np400193m. Epub 2013 Jul 22.

Abstract

The present study reports the mechanism of the antileishmanial activity of quercetin against the intracellular amastigote form of Leishmania amazonensis. Treatment with 1 reduced the infection index in L. amazonensis-infected macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 μM and a selectivity index of 16.8, and additionally increased ROS generation also in a dose-dependent manner. Quercetin has been described as a pro-oxidant that induces the production of reactive oxygen species, which can cause cell death. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS production plays a role in the mechanism of action of 1 in the control of intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Leishmania / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quercetin / chemistry
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / analysis
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Quercetin