Leishmanicidal activity of brazilian propolis hydroalcoholic extract in Leishmania amazonensis

Abstract

Leishmaniosis are considered neglected diseases due to its high incidence, widespread and difficulty in treatment being included in the list of priority diseases by the World Health Organization. Available treatments for these diseases have high toxicity, which explains the search for more effective drugs. Previous studies with propolis - a resinous substance produced by bees - demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-parasitic activity in several experimental models. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect in vitro of Brazilian propolis hydroalcoholic extract, collected in the city of Botucatu in São Paulo State, on promastigotes forms of Leishmania amazonensis as well as its effect on the parasite load in the spleen of infected mice. Thus, promastigote forms treated with 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 ?g/mL of Brazilian propolis hydroalcoholic extract at 24, 96 and 168 hours showed inhibitory effect on the spread of these pararasite at all indicated times. However, the concentrations of 50 and 100 ?g/mL were more effective, reducing the parasite spread when compared to the control and other concentrations at all times. Regarding parasitic load, after 30 days of infection with L. amazonensis, BALB/c mice were treated on a daily basis with propolis (5mg/kg) orally or intraperitoneally for 60 days. Further, the spleen was collected for parasite load analysis. Oral treatment reduced 40% of the parasitic load. Thus, the tested Brazilian propolis sample showed antileishmanial activity on L. amazonensis in culture and in parasite- infected mice.