Activity of alkaloids from Aspidosperma nitidum against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis.
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2022
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Abstract
This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by fractions and subfractions, obtained from
barks of Aspidosperna nitidum, against L. (L.) amazonensis promastigotes. The ethanolic extract (EE)
obtained through the maceration of trunk barks was subjected to an acid–base partition, resulting the
neutral (FN) and the alkaloid (FA) fractions, and fractionation under refux, yielded hexane (FrHEX),
dichloromethane (FrDCL), ethyl acetate (FrACoET), and methanol (FrMEOH) fractions. The FA was
fractionated and three subfractions (SF5-6, SF8, and SF9) were obtained and analyzed by HPLC–DAD
and 1
H NMR. The antipromastigote activity of all samples was evaluated by MTT, after that, scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the active fractions were
performed. Chromatographic analyzes suggest the presence of alkaloids in EE, FN, FA, and FrDCL.
The fractionation of FA led to the isolation of the indole alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol (SF8 fractions).
The SF5-6, dihydrocorynantheol and SF-9 samples were active against promastigotes, while FrDCL
was moderately active. The SEM analysis revealed cell rounding and changes in the fagellum of the
parasites. In the TEM analysis, the treated promastigotes showed changes in fagellar pocket and
kinetoplast, and presence of lipid inclusions. These results suggest that alkaloids isolated from A.
nitidum are promising as leishmanicidal.
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VEIGA, A. do S. S. da et al. Activity of alkaloids from Aspidosperma nitidum against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Scientifc Reports, v. 12, 2022. Disponível em: <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12396-x>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.