The Caatinga endemic Manilkara rufula possesses remarkable activity against Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus

Exp Parasitol. 2017 Feb:173:18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.12.006. Epub 2016 Dec 9.

Abstract

Tritrichomonas foetus infects the bovine urogenital tract, causing bovine trichomoniasis. Significant economic losses may occur due to infertility and abortion among cattle. Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis; the most common but overlooked non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Human and bovine trichomoniasis present treatment restrictions and efforts to identify new alternatives are essential. The present study evaluated the anti-trichomonads activities of seven fractions from northwest endemic plant Manilkara rufula. Flavonoids and condensed tannins were identified from these fractions by LC-DAD-MS/MS and MALDI-MS/MS. Altogether, the results demonstrated for the first time the structural description of tannins from leaves of M. rufula and the relation of these compounds with anti-T. vaginalis and anti-T. foetus activities. Overall, this report reveals the potential of M. rufula fractions against both parasites and shows new alternatives to treat the infection caused by trichomonads.

Keywords: Manilkara rufula; Polyphenol; Sapotaceae; Tannin; Trichomonas vaginalis; Tritrichomonas foetus.

MeSH terms

  • Antitrichomonal Agents / chemistry
  • Antitrichomonal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antitrichomonal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Brazil
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Manilkara / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Tannins / chemistry
  • Tannins / isolation & purification
  • Tannins / pharmacology*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / drug effects*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / physiology
  • Tritrichomonas foetus / drug effects*
  • Tritrichomonas foetus / physiology

Substances

  • Antitrichomonal Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Tannins