Leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activity of extracts and saponins from Ilex laurina (Aquifoliaceae)

ABSTRACT: Purpose: To evaluate the leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activity of alcohol and non-alcohol extracts and saponins from Ilex laurina. Methods: Extracts were obtained by percolation with solvents of different polarities: hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ethanol. The ethyl acetate extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography eluting with a step gradient of dichloromethane-methanol. All products were evaluated in vitro for leishmanicidal activity against amastigotes of leishmania panamensis and cytotoxicity on U937 cells. Results: Two saponins were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. The ethyl acetate extract showed high leishmanicidal activity against intracellular amastigotes of L. panamensis (EC50, 7.5 ± 1.5 µg/mL) and low activity against axenic amastigotes (EC50, 52.8 ±1.6 µg/mL); this extract showed also high cytotoxicity (LC50, 57.7 ± 12.1 µg/mL). Saponin 2 exhibited high activity against intracellular amastigotes (EC50, 5.9 ± 0.5 µg/mL) but also showed high cytotoxicity on U-937 cells (EC50, 25.7 ± 6.1 µg/mL). This compound showed similar leishmanicidal activity and cytotoxicity to meglumine antimoniate and amphotericin B, respectively, drugs currently used for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Conclusions: Based on these results, Ilex laurina is a potential source of compounds that can lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives against leishmaniasis.

• Autores: Cardona Galeano, Wilson; Pérez Cardona, Juan Manuel; Robledo Restrepo, Sara María; Alzate Guarín, Fernando; Muñoz Herrera, Diana Lorena; Herrera Ramírez, Angie
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2016
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/30995
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/10495/30995; https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjpr/article/view/136341
• Palabra clave: Leishmaniosis; Antiprotozoarios; Antiprotozoal Agents; Saponinas; Saponins; Aquifoliáceas; Aquifoliaceae; llex laurina
• Rights: openAccess
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/co/