In vivo protection against chagasic cardiomyopathy progression using trypanocidal fractions from Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) essential oils

Immunomodulation and Antioxidant Activities as Possible Trypanocidal and Cardioprotective Mechanisms of Major Terpenes from Lippia alba Essential Oils in an Experimental Model of Chronic Chagas Disease

“…The successful induction of the experimental cardiomyopathy model was confirmed by bulging and dilated forms, especially in the left ventricles, of the hearts in the positive control group (observed in 100% of the animals). Consistently, in these animals, histopathology evidenced: multiple foci of inflammatory infiltrate with cell diversity (predominantly lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes); damage to the myocardial tissue, the atria-ventricle junction sites, and the neurons of the cardiac plexus [ 10 , 15 ].…”

“…Histologically, animals treated with LIMOX evidenced very few inflammatory foci and minimal fibrosis in the heart tissue, with similar characteristics to those of the negative control, in the whole-slide scanning analysis. These results could be attributable to the trypanocidal and cardioprotective effects previously ascribed to limonene and caryophyllene oxide [ 8 , 10 ]. In contrast, somewhat more inflammatory foci were discovered in the tissues of the animals treated with LIMOXBNZ, in whom the signs of fibrosis were also more evident.…”

“…In our group, promising in vitro trypanocidal activity was reported for the major terpenes of L. alba EOs [ 8 ], limonene and caryophyllene oxide; with limonene being the most effective compound against all parasite forms (IC 50 of 9.0, 28.7, and 41.8 µg/mL for amastigotes, trypomastigotes, and epimastigotes, respectively) [ 8 ]. This activity was also exhibited in in vivo models applied to Wistar rats with chronic T. cruzi infection, which were treated with synergistic fractions of these EOs enriched in limonene and caryophyllene oxide [ 10 ]. Recently, in vitro immunomodulatory properties on macrophages infected with T. cruzi were also ascribed to these phytoderivatives [ 9 ].…”

“…Animals from the positive control and experimental groups were infected using an inoculum prepared as described in the literature [ 10 ]. Briefly, 2.5 × 10 5 metacyclic trypomastigotes of T. cruzi clone 338Cl2 (isolated from a confirmed CCC patient), characterized as Discrete Typing Unit (DTU) TcI, were obtained from TAU3AAG media, resuspended in a final volume of 100 µL of phosphate buffer saline-glucose (PBS-G), and injected into the intraperitoneal cavity [ 10 ]. After infection, the rats’ behavior and clinical parameters (weight, ocular perimeter, position of the vibrissae, physical condition, stool moisture, and parasitemia) were monitored every three days.…”

“…Brown essential oils (EOs) rich in terpenes such as limonene, citral, and caryophyllene oxide [ 8 , 9 ]. In addition, trypanocidal and cardioprotective qualities have also been ascribed to these oils in animals with chronic T. cruzi infection [ 10 ]. The aim of the present work is to assess, in an animal model of chronic Chagas disease, potential immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties as possible mechanisms for the trypanocidal and cardioprotective activity observed for these compounds.…”