In vitro leishmanicidal effect of Yangambin and Epi-yangambin lignans isolated from Ocotea fasciculata (Nees) Mez

Jéssica Rebouças-Silva; Gabriel Farias Santos; José Maria Barbosa Filho; Andresa A Berretta; Franciane Marquele-Oliveira; Valéria M Borges

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.1045732

In vitro leishmanicidal effect of Yangambin and Epi-yangambin lignans isolated from Ocotea fasciculata (Nees) Mez

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Jan 10:12:1045732. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1045732. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jéssica Rebouças-Silva^{1

2}, Gabriel Farias Santos¹, José Maria Barbosa Filho³, Andresa A Berretta⁴, Franciane Marquele-Oliveira⁵, Valéria M Borges^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
² Faculty of Medicine of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
³ Post-Graduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Research, Development and Innovation, Apis Flora Industrial e Comercial Ltda, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Laboratory of Research, Development and Innovation, Eleve Science Research and Development, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Introduction: Yangambin and epi-yangambin are the main lignans found in Louro-de-Cheiro [Ocotea fasciculata (Nees) Mez], a tree native to the Atlantic forests of northeastern Brazil whose leaves and bark are widely used in folk medicine. The present study investigated the leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory effects of both lignans in in vitro models of infection by Leishmania amazonensis or Leishmania braziliensis, both etiological agents of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages were infected with L. amazonensis or L. braziliensis and then treated for 48 h at varying concentrations of yangambin or epi-yangambin.

Results: Yangambin and epi-yangambin were found to reduce the intracellular viability of either Leishmania species in a concentration-dependent manner, with respective IC₅₀ values of: 43.9 ± 5 and 22.6 ± 4.9 µM for L. amazonensis, compared to IC₅₀ values of 76 ± 17 and 74.4 ± 9.8 µM for L. braziliensis. In this context, epi-yangambin proved more selective and effective against in vitro infection by L. amazonensis. However, both lignans were found to distinctly modulate the production of inflammatory mediators and other cytokines by macrophages infected by either of the Leishmania species evaluated. While yangambin increased the production of IL-10 by L. braziliensis-infected macrophages, both compounds were observed to lower the production of NO, PGE₂, IL-6 and TNF-α in both Leishmania species.

Discussion: The present results serve to encourage the development of novel studies aimed at screening natural bioactive compounds with the hope of discovering new therapeutic options for the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Keywords: Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Ocotea fasciculata (Nees) Mez; epi-yangambin; lignan; natural compounds; treatment; yangambin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Leishmania*
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous* / drug therapy
Lignans* / pharmacology
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Ocotea*
Plant Extracts / pharmacology

Substances

epiyangambin
Plant Extracts
Lignans

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - Financing Code 001. VB is a senior investigator from CNPq. JR-S has fellowship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). GS has fellowship from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB).