Leishmanicidal activity of benzophenones and extracts from Garcinia brasiliensis Mart. fruits

Pereira, I.O.; Marques, M.J.; Pavan, A.L.R.; Codonho, B.S.; Barbiéri, C.L.; Beijo, L.A.; Doriguetto, A.C.; D’Martin, E.C.; dos Santos, M.H.

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.07.020

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Volume 17, Issue 5 , Pages 339-345, April 2010

Leishmanicidal activity of benzophenones and extracts from Garcinia brasiliensis Mart. fruits

I.O. Pereira
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +553532991109; fax: +553532991067.
M.J. Marques
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
A.L.R. Pavan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
B.S. Codonho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
C.L. Barbiéri
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
L.A. Beijo
- Department of Exacts Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
A.C. Doriguetto
- Department of Exacts Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
E.C. D’Martin
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
M.H. dos Santos
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil

published online 17 September 2009.

Abstract

Infections by protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of extracts (hexane, ethyl-acetate and ethanolic) and molecules both obtained by means of extraction from pericarps of Garcinia brasiliensis fruits. The hexane extract presented the best activity on the extracellular (promastigotes) and intracellular (amastigotes) forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. Based on these findings, this extract was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, affording nine fractions then resulting in three purified prenylated benzophenones – 7-epi-clusianone (1), garciniaphenone (2) and guttiferone-a (3). They showed significant activity on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, and little toxicity for mammalian cells. Structure-activity relationships were evaluated showing that the IC₅₀ value displayed is dependent of prenyl groups and phenolic hydroxyls number, and inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.