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Dutra RP, de Sousa MM, Mignoni MSPM, de Oliveira KGM, Pereira EB, Figueredo AS, da Costa AAC, Dias TG, Vasconcelos CC, Silva LA, Reis AS, Lopes AJO. Brazilian Amazon Red Propolis: Leishmanicidal Activity and Chemical Composition of a New Variety of Red Propolis. Metabolites 2023; 13:1027. [PMID: 37755307 PMCID: PMC10535413 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13091027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania, and its treatment is highly toxic, leading to treatment discontinuation and the emergence of resistant strains. In this study, we assessed the leishmanicidal activity and chemical composition of red propolis collected from the Amazon-dominated region of northern Tocantins State, Brazil. The MTT assay was employed to determine the samples' activity against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and their cytotoxicity against RAW macrophages. Spectrophotometric assays were utilised to measure the concentrations of total phenolics and flavonoids, while high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the chemical composition. An in silico study was conducted to evaluate which compounds from Brazilian Amazon red propolis may correlate with this biological activity. Brazilian Amazon red propolis exhibited a high concentration of phenolic compounds and an inhibitory activity against L. amazonensis, with an IC50 ranging from 23.37 to 36.10 µg/mL. Moreover, fractionation of the propolis yielded a fraction with enhanced bioactivity (16.11 µg/mL). Interestingly, neither the propolis nor its most active fraction showed cytotoxicity towards macrophages at concentrations up to 200 µg/mL. The red colour and the presence of isoflavonoid components (isoflavones, isoflavans, and pterocarpans) confirm that the substance is Brazilian red propolis. However, the absence of polyprenylated benzophenones suggests that this is a new variety of Brazilian red propolis. The in silico study performed with two of the main leishmanicidal drug targets using all compounds identified in Amazon red propolis reported that liquiritigenin was the compound that exhibited the best electronic interaction parameters, which was confirmed in an assay with promastigotes using a standard. The findings indicate that Amazon red propolis possesses leishmanicidal activity, low toxicity, and significant biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Pereira Dutra
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
- Program in Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | - Marcos Marinho de Sousa
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
- Program in Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | - Maria Simone Pereira Maciel Mignoni
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
- Program in Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | | | - Euzineti Borges Pereira
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | - Aline Santana Figueredo
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunoparasitology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, Brazil
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses 1966, São Luís 65085–580, Brazil
| | - Arthur André Castro da Costa
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunoparasitology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, Brazil
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses 1966, São Luís 65085–580, Brazil
| | - Tatielle Gomes Dias
- Program in Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | - Cleydlenne Costa Vasconcelos
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses 1966, São Luís 65085–580, Brazil
| | - Lucilene Amorim Silva
- Laboratory of Pathology and Immunoparasitology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, Brazil
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, Av. dos Portugueses 1966, São Luís 65085–580, Brazil
| | - Aramys Silva Reis
- Program in Health and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz 65915-240, Brazil
| | - Alberto Jorge Oliveira Lopes
- Chemistry Postgraduate Program, Federal Institute of Science Education and Technology of Maranhão, São Luís 65030-005, Brazil
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Fróes YN, Araújo JGN, Gonçalves JRDS, Oliveira MJMG, Everton GO, Filho VEM, Silva MRC, Silva LDM, Silva LA, Neto LGL, Oliveira RM, Torres MAO, Silva LCND, Lopes AJO, Aliança ASDS, Rocha CQD, Sousa JCS. Chemical Characterization and Leishmanicidal Activity In Vitro and In Silico of Natural Products Obtained from Leaves of Vernonanthura brasiliana (L.) H. Rob (Asteraceae). Metabolites 2023; 13. [PMID: 36837904 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vernonanthura brasiliana (L.) H. Rob is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of several infections. This study aimed to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of V. brasiliana leaves using in vitro and in silico approaches. The chemical composition of V. brasiliana leaf extract was determined through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The inhibitory activity against Leishmania amazonensis promastigote was evaluated by the MTT method. In silico analysis was performed using Lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) as the target. The toxicity analysis was performed in RAW 264.7 cells and Tenebrio molitor larvae. LC-MS revealed the presence of 14 compounds in V. brasiliana crude extract, including flavonoids, flavones, sesquiterpene lactones, and quinic acids. Eriodictol (ΔGbind = -9.0), luteolin (ΔGbind = -8.7), and apigenin (ΔGbind = -8.6) obtained greater strength of molecular interaction with lanosterol demethylase in the molecular docking study. The hexane fraction of V. brasiliana showed the best leishmanicidal activity against L. amazonensis in vitro (IC50 12.44 ± 0.875 µg·mL-1) and low cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells (CC50 314.89 µg·mL-1, SI = 25.30) and T. molitor larvae. However, the hexane fraction and Amphotericin-B had antagonistic interaction (FICI index ≥ 4.0). This study revealed that V. brasiliana and its metabolites are potential sources of lead compounds for drugs for leishmaniasis treatment.
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