Antileishmanial activity and mechanism of action from a purified fraction of Zingiber officinalis Roscoe against Leishmania amazonensis.

摘要: In recent years, considerable attention has been given to identify new antileishmanial products derived from medicinal plants, although, date, no effective compound recently applied treat leishmaniasis. the present study, activity of a water extract Zingiber officinalis Roscoe (ginger) was investigated and purified fraction, named F10, identified as responsible by this biological activity. The chemical characterization performed for fraction showed that it is mainly composed flavonoids saponins. F10 presented IC50 values 125.5 49.8 μg/mL, respectively. Their selectivity indexes (SI) were calculated seven 40 times higher, respectively, in relation value found amphotericin B, which used control. Additional studies evaluate toxicity these compounds human red blood cells, besides production nitrite, an indicator nitric oxide (NO), treated infected macrophages. results both not toxic they able stimulate nitrite production, with 13.6 5.4 μM, suggesting their could be due macrophages activation via NO production. conclusion, study shows ginger evaluated future works therapeutic alternative, on its own or association other drugs, disease caused L. amazonensis.