Antileishmanial and Antitrypanosomal Activity of Triterpene Derivatives from Latex of Two Euphorbia Species

Abstract

The in vitro activity on Leishmania infantum promastigotes and Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes of 25 semisynthetic terpenoid derivatives has been evaluated. These compounds were obtained through chemical modifications of the major components of Euphorbia resinifera (α-euphol and α-euphorbol) and Euphorbia officinarum (obtusifoliol and 31-norlanosterol). Leishmaniasis and Chagas´ disease are major worldwide health problems. The drugs of choice for their treatment are still problematic in both cases, and therefore there is an urgent need to discover new drugs with high activity and low side effects. Natural products have become a key source of new drugs in the last years. The genus Euphorbia has been the subject of abundant phytochemical and pharmacological research because of its potential medical applications, but the antiparasitic effects of derivatives from plants of this genus are still unknown. Our results showed that 76% and 64% of the test compounds had antiparasitic effects on L. infantum and T. cruzi, respectively. The different activities on both parasites, especially their moderate effects on mammalian cells, indicate an interesting selective toxicity.

New Bioactive Semisynthetic Derivatives of 31-Norlanostenol and Obtusifoliol from Euphorbia Officinarum

“…Triterpene derivatives of euphol and euphorbol of E. officinarum have demonstrated antifeedant and toxic effects on Spodoptera littoralis, an important crop pest, selective cytotoxicity on insect and mammalian cells [8] and antiparasitic effects on two protozoan species Leishmania infantum and Trypansoma cruzi [9]. Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are neglected diseases prevalent worldwide caused by the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp.…”

Optimization of Insecticidal Triterpene Derivatives by Biomimetic Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodosobenzene Catalyzed by MnIII and FeIII Porphyrin Complexes

“…[19] and antiparasitic effects on two protozoan species Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi. [20] The main hypothesis regarding the function of phytoecdysteroids (PEs) in plants is that they provide protection against non-adapted insects (invertebrates) and/or soil nematodes. [29] PEs can lead to endocrine disruption and/or death of phytophagous invertebrates [30,31] and/or have antifeedant effects.…”

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Derivatives from the conventional oxidation of triterpenes isolated from the latex of Euphorbia officinarum and Euphorbia resinifera have demonstrated strong postingestive toxic effects on the insect pest Spodoptera littoralis, selective cytotoxicity on insect and mammalian cells [19] and antiparasitic effects on two protozoan species, Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi. [20] Furthermore, some of these derivatives protected tomato plants from Verticillium dahliae at low concentrations, elicited H 2 O 2 , and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes suggesting elicitor-like effects [21,22] with similar action on Nicotiana benthamia against Pseudomonas syringae. [23] Therefore, chemical diversity originated from the oxidation of Euphorbia triterpenes has demonstrated potential as a source of natural-product inspired agents of importance in crop protection.…”

Terpenoids, Cannabimimetic Ligands, beyond the Cannabis Plant

“…Importantly, ethnopharmacology evidences have lead and contributed to studies on the anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects of this triterpene compound, as by many years the plants from this family have been used as folk phytomedicine to treat tumors and inflammation states [221]. Although, limited studies on antiviral, antiparasitic [225,226], antimicrobial, and antifungal activities of euphol have been recently reported. In our point, the most interesting aspect of a recent study is the finding that euphol can modulate the immune system by inducing cytokine production, namely IL-4, IL-3, and IL-2; thereby, influencing the Th1/Th2 balance [227].…”