In vitro effects of lapachol and β-lapachone against Leishmania amazonensis

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and special attention should be given to treatment because the available drugs have limitations, which can lead to low therapeutic adherence and parasitic resistance. This study evaluated the activity of the bioactive naphthoquinones, lapachol and β-lapachone, against Leishmania amazonensis. The cell alterations were evaluated in vitro on promastigote and amastigote forms. The lethal dose (LD50) at 24, 48, and 72 h on the promastigote's forms using lapachol was 75.60, 72.82, and 58.85 μg/mL and for β-lapachone was 0.65, 1.24, and 0.71 μg/mL, respectively. The naphthoquinones significantly inhibited the survival rate of L. amazonensis amastigotes at 83.11, 57.59, and 34.95% for lapachol (82.28, 41.14, and 20.57 µg/mL), and 78.49, 83.25, and 80.22% for β-lapachone (3.26, 1.63, and 0.815 µg/mL). The compounds on the promastigote's forms led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, induced changes in the integrity of the membrane, caused damage to cells suggestive of the apoptotic process, and showed inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production. The results showed that these naphthoquinones are promising candidates for research on new drugs with anti-Leishmania activity derived from natural products

Ocorrência de leishmaniose tegumentar em cães de área endêmica no Estado do Paraná Occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in dogs of endemic area, Paraná State

Investigou-se a infecção por parasitas do complexo Leishmania braziliensis em 50 cães da cidade de Maringá, PR, onde ocorreram casos humanos de leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA), entre agosto e dezembro de 2006. Os casos humanos de LTA ocorreram nos anos de 2003 a 2004. Nenhum animal apresentou lesão, mas 12 (24,0%) tinham sorologia e/ou PCR positivas, e a positividade tanto da IFI como da PCR foi de 14,0%. Trinta e cinco animais eram de residências, e oito deles (22,8%) tiveram testes laboratoriais para LTA positivos. Os outros 15 eram cães errantes, sendo que quatro deles (26,7%) apresentaram PCR positiva. A presença de animais com infecção assintomática por Leishmania em área onde a LTA é endêmica pode ser um indicador do potencial de sua transmissão para o homem e uma referência para a implantação de medidas de controle e prevenção da doença.<br>The infection by Leishmania braziliensis complex was studied in 50 dogs from Maringá, PR, where American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in humans have been detected. Data were collected from August to December 2006 in an area in which ACL cases in humans were reported from 2003 to 2004. Indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied. No lesions were found in the animals, although 12 (24.0%) had positive IIF and/or PCR. Positiveness was 14.0% for IIF and PCR. Lab tests showed that eight (22.8%) out of the 35 home animals were ACL positive. The other 15 animals were stray dogs, out of which four (26.7%) were PCR positive. The appearance of asymptomatic Leishmania-infected dogs in an ACL endemic area may be an indicator of ACL transmission potential for humans and a reference for the establishment of control measures and disease prevention

Effect of a topical formulation containing <i>Calophyllum brasiliense</i> Camb. extract on cutaneous wound healing in rats

<div><p>This study evaluated the wound healing effects of topical application of an emulsion containing the HPLC-standardised extract from <i>Calophyllum brasiliense</i> Cambess (Clusiaceae) leaves in rats. The macroscopic analysis demonstrated that the wounds treated with the <i>C. brasiliense</i> emulsion healed earlier than the wounds treated with emulsion base and Dersani®. The percentage of wound healing in the group treated with the <i>C. brasiliense</i> emulsion was significantly higher than in the other groups at 7 and 14 days. On day 14, the animals treated with the <i>C. brasiliense</i> emulsion exhibited a 90.67% reduction of the wound areas. The histological evaluation revealed that on day 21, the group treated with the <i>C. brasiliense</i> emulsion exhibited a significant increase in fibroblasts compared with the other groups. Thus, the <i>C. brasiliense</i> emulsion had healing properties in the topical treatment of wounds and accelerated the healing process.</p></div

Controle de flebotomíneos com DDT, em àrea endêmica de leishmaniose tegumentar no estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil

<abstract language="eng">Evaluation of DDT insecticide used to sand flies control in domiciles and domestic animal shelters in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Collections of sand flies were made with Falcão traps in houses, in one pigsty and in one tree in Jussara Farm, municipality of Jussara, State of Paraná, Brazil, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. during 7 days from March 24 to April 1, 1992. In May, 1992 DDT insecticide (Dicloro Difenil Tricloro Etano) (1 g/square meter of area) was applied internally and externally on houses and in pigsty. After this, new collections of sand flies were made from July 1992 to February 1993, once a month, with Falcão traps installed in the same hour and conditions mentioned above. Before DDT insecticide application 12,960 sand flies were collected (Hourly Average=463) and it was observed the prevalence (61,8%). of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) After the DDT application only 589 sand flies were collected (Hourly Average=18,4) and also L. whitmani predominated again (90,8%). The decrease of sand flies number after the DDT insecticide application in domiciles and in pigsty prove that this measure can help cutaneous leishmaniasis control in Northern Paraná