Report of in vitro antileishmanial properties of Iberian macroalgae

Nat Prod Res. 2019 Jun;33(12):1778-1782. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1434637. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Abstract

Here is reported the anti Leishmania infantum activity of 48 hexane, CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts from 16 macroalgae collected on the Iberian Coast. Seven hexane and CH2Cl2 Cystoseira baccata, Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira tamariscifolia, Cystoseira usneoides, Dictyota spiralis and Plocamium cartilagineum extracts were active towards promastigotes (IC50 29.8-101.8 μg/mL) inducing strong morphological alterations in the parasites. Hexane extracts of C. baccata and C. barbata were also active against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 5.1 and 6.8 μg/mL, respectively). Fatty acids, triacylglycerols, carotenoids, steroids and meroterpenoids were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gas chromatography in the Cystoseira extracts. These results suggest that Cystoseira macroalgae contain compounds with antileishmanial activity, which could be explored as scaffolds to the development of novel sources of antiparasitic derivatives.

Keywords: Antiparasitic; leishmaniasis; macroalgae; secondary metabolites.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry
  • Leishmania infantum / drug effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Phaeophyceae / chemistry*
  • Seaweed / chemistry*
  • Steroids / analysis

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Fatty Acids
  • Steroids
  • Carotenoids