Inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi growth by medical plant extracts

Fitoterapia. 2002 Dec;73(7-8):569-75. doi: 10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00246-0.

Abstract

This study describes the screening of extracts obtained from 18 plants and two fungi used in the Chinese and Mediterranean traditional medicines on epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. The extracts were tested against epimastigote of T. cruzi Bra C15C2 clone in vitro at 27 degrees C and at a concentration of 250 microg/ml in axenic culture. Angelica dahurica, A. pubescens, A. sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Coptis chinensis, Haplophyllum hispanicum, Phellodendron amurense, Poria cocos, Ranunculus sceleratus and Scutellaria baicalensis showed significant effects against the parasite with a percentage of growth inhibition between 20 and 100%. C. chinensis and R. sceleratus showed the greatest activity with IC(50) values of 1.7 microg/ml for C. chinensis and 10.7 microg/ml for R. sceleratus. These activities are greater than that of allopurinol. C. chinesis and R. sceleratus extracts did not show cytotoxic effects on rat polimorphonuclear cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and lactic dehydrogenase assays. These results allowed us to suggest that R. sceleratus and C. chinensis could be a source of new compounds clinically active against T. cruzi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astragalus propinquus
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fungi / chemistry*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Medicine, Traditional*
  • Mediterranean Region
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / growth & development*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts