Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is difficult due to the scarce number of drugs able to eliminate completely the intracellular form of the parasite. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate: i) phytochemical properties of extracts from Libidibia ferrea; ii) antileishmanial activity of extracts from L. ferrea against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis; iii) the effects of topical treatment using hydrogel containing active extract of L. ferrea on golden hamsters infected with L. (L.) amazonensis. Extracts from leaves, branches and fruits of L. ferrea were obtained with hexane and methanol and were tested by in vitro assays in promastigotes and murine macrophages J774 experimentally infected with amastigotes of Leishmania. Groups of hamsters with CL received topical treatment with a formulation of extract (10%) hydrogels, 50 mg.day ) e baixa citotoxicidade em células de macrófagos J774. Os resultados destacaram que as lesões cutâneas de animais que receberam tratamento com hidrogel + extrato (GelFrMeOH) apresentaram redução significativa (42,78%), menos úlceração e redução da carga parasitária detectada por RT-qPCR, microscopia e análise em cultura e alterações histopatológicas, como menor infiltrado inflamatório após 40 dias de tratamento. A análise química demonstrou que FrMeOH contém altos níveis de compostos fenólicos. Os resultados apontam para uma possível terapia alternativa para CL utilizando fitoterápicos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: leishmaniose cutânea, formulações tópicas, produtos naturais, tratamento experimental

American integumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is a neglected disease that mostly affects vulnerable populations. Its broad spectrum of clinical manifestations is related to the type of immune response produced by the host and the species of Leishmania involved. In recent years, the use of medicinal plants has become a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of infectious parasitic diseases. This research aimed to evaluate the lymphoproliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) before and after treatment, and healthy individuals. The lymphoproliferative response was evaluated in cell culture using stimuli of the dichloromethane fraction (DCM) obtained from Libidibia ferrea, Glucantime® and phytohemagglutinin - PHA using a BrdU Cell Proliferation after 72 h of incubation. In cultures treated with the DCM fraction, intense induction of lymphoproliferation was observed (p<0.0001), as was also observed in response to the PHA mitogen, and there was a significant difference when compared with the conventional treatment (p<0.0135). In the post-treatment and healthy groups, although the compound induced lymphoproliferation, there was no statistical difference. These results suggest that the organic compound played an important inducing role in lymphoproliferation, which highlights the importance of continuity involving new studies in order to evaluate its immunomodulatory activity.

Interdisciplinaridade em Ciências Farmacêuticas 11 SUMÁRIOCapítulo 20: O potencial dos tratamentos tópicos para leishmaniose tegumentar: Uma revisão da literatura .

ResumoA Leishmaniose é considerada uma doença negligenciada. Nos últimos anos estudos tem demonstrado que várias plantas possuem atividade contra esses patógenos, servindo de base para a formulação de fitoterápicos ou como alvo para a obtenção de princípios ativos contra a doença. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade biológica in vitro antileishmania dos extratos hexânicos e metanólicos das flores e folhas de Tanacetum vulgare contra Leishmania amazonensis e Leishmania guyanensis. Foi realizada a extração das flores e folhas do material vegetal a partir dos solventes hexânico e metanólico. The results showed that the extract metanolic of the flower showed activity against L. amazonensis (IC50 = 31.5 μg mL -1 ) and L. guyanensis (IC50 < 100 μg mL -1 ) in 72 h of incubation. Therefore, it is verified that the methanolic extract of the T. vulgare flower performed better in relation to antileishmania activity, allowing the possibility of future studies to determine its therapeutic efficacy.

Interdisciplinaridade em Ciências Farmacêuticas 11 SUMÁRIOCapítulo 20: O potencial dos tratamentos tópicos para leishmaniose tegumentar: Uma revisão da literatura .