IHEM   20887
INSTITUTO DE HISTOLOGIA Y EMBRIOLOGIA DE MENDOZA DR. MARIO H. BURGOS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
SALVIGENIN AFFECTS THE PROLIFERATION AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI EPIMASTIGOTES.
Autor/es:
CANO R; ESTEBAN LOZANO; SOSA MIGUEL ANGEL; CIFUENTES D
Lugar:
San Luis
Reunión:
Congreso; XXXV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2019
Institución organizadora:
Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo
Resumen:
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causal etiologic agent of Chagas disease. In cultures, this parasite is mainly found in the epimastigote form and a low percentage in the infective form trypomastigote. The current chemotherapy against T. cruzi is insufficient because the available drugs, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, have limited activity, and show toxic side effects in patients. Therefore, the "screening" of purified molecules from natural sources, mainly plant leaves has become an important tool for the fight against Chagas disease. Many natural compounds, extracted from plants native of Argentina, have been shown to be effective against the parasite. Among them, flavonoids are an important family of molecules that have been widely studied. In this work we analyze the effect of the natural flavonoid Salvigenin (SVG) isolated from Baccharis scandens on the growth of T. cruzi epimastigotes (strain Dm28c). SVG showed an antiproliferative effect on epimastigotes, even at low concentrations. This effect was irreversible even in the short term of exposure to the compound. SVG significantly decreases the mitochondrial activity of the parasites, at all the concentrations tested (1, 5 and 10 μg/ml). This alteration is related to changes in ROS levels observed with the treatment. When we analyze the ultrastructure of the parasites we observed a disorganization of the cytoplasm at a general level, an increase in cytoplasmic vacuolization. Also, the presence of structures that appear to be like ?membrane blisters? is highlighted. From these results it is necessary to identify the molecular targets of the parasites for the action of this compound and to determine if SVG can affect the life cycle of T cruzi.