Aim: The effect of astrakurkurone, a novel triterpene, isolated from Indian mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus has been investigated to elucidate the mechanisms involved in selective cell death of Leishmania donovani.
Materials & methods: The hypotheses were investigated using flow-cytometry, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy.
Results: The time dependent elevation of astrakurkurone-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) was found intimately associated with apoptosis. The involvement of ROS in promastigote death was found confirmed as NAC and GSH could decrease the ROS level and restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)). It also inhibited the intracellular amastigotes.
Conclusion: We claim the present invention as substantial in depth evidences that mushroom derived active molecules can be exploited as target specific, comparatively nontoxic leads for antileishmanial therapy.
Keywords: Astraeus hygrometricus; Leishmania donovani; ROS; antileishmanial; apoptosis; mitochondrial dysfunction; mushroom; natural product; triterpene.