Chenopodium ambrosioides mata a Leishmania amazonensis –melhor efeito intralesional
Common Names: Erva-de-Santa Maria, Epazote, Wormseed, Apasote, Chenopode, Feuilles A
Vers, Herbe A Vers, Meksika Cayi, Paico, Pazote, Semen Contra, Semin Contra, Simon
Contegras
Efficacy of the intralesional treatment
with Chenopodium ambrosioides in the
murine infection by Leishmania
amazonensis.
Patrício FJ, Costa GC, Pereira PV, Aragão-Filho WC, Sousa SM, Frazão JB, Pereira
WS, Maciel MC, Silva LA, Amaral FM, Rebêlo JM, Guerra RN, Ribeiro MN,
Nascimento FR.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jan 17;115(2):313-9. Epub 2007 Oct 16.
Source
Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do
Maranhão (UFMA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS), Campus do
Bacanga, Av. dos Portugueses s/n, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY:
Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoan from Leishmania genus, is an endemic disease in
the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The chemotherapy to this disease is
not always effective and can cause several side effects. Chenopodium ambrosioides L.
(Chenopodiaceae) is used by the native people in the treatment of cutaneous ulcers
caused by different species of Leishmania. The aim of this study was to investigate the
effect of the treatment with a hydroalcoholic crude extract (HCE) from the leaves of
Chenopodium ambrosioides on the murine infection with Leishmania amazonensis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
The mice were treated for 4-6 weeks post-infection (p.i.) with HCE (5 mg/kg) or
meglumine antimoniate (Sb(v)) (28 mg/kg) either by the oral route, once a day, for 15
days or by five intralesional (IL) injections at intervals of 4 days. The thickness of the
infected paws was determined weekly and the parasite load evaluated in the draining
lymph nodes (LN), the spleen and in the footpad after 7 weeks of infection. The nitric
oxide (NO) production was evaluated in cultures with cells from peritoneum or LN.
RESULTS:
The IL treatment increased the NO production in the LN and peritoneum cultures and
reduced the parasite load from the footpad, spleen and LN. On the other hand, the oral
treatment decreased did alter neither the NO production nor the parasite load.
CONCLUSIONS:
IL HCE treatment was more efficient than the oral HCE treatment since the former was
able to control the dissemination of infection. This effect can be due to either a direct
leishmanicidal effect of HCE or the improvement in the NO production by HCEstimulated macrophages. The results could justify the topical use of the Chenopodium
ambrosioides' leaves in the treatment of the ulcers caused by Leishmania.
PMID:
18035510