Leishmanicidal Activity of the Volatile Oil of Piper macedoi

Leishmaniasis are zoonosis caused by more than 20 species of protozoa. The treatment is carried out with pentavalent antimonials (Sb5+) and amphotericin B, neither of which is fully effective. In the present study, the leishmanicidal activity and the cytotoxic potential of the volatile oil of Pipermacedoi Yunck., Piperaceae, were evaluated. Extraction was achieved by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, followed by chemical analysis using gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The in vitro test was performed against amastigotes of Leishmania infantum (BH46) and cytotoxic activity was evaluated against canine macrophages (DH82), human hepatoma cells (HepG2), and monkey renal cells (BGM). P.macedoi proved to be effective with leishmanicidal activity against amastigotes of L.infantum with an IC50 of 222.4 mu g/ml. The cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) were 316.8, 194.8, and 300.6 mu g/ml to DH82, HepG2, and BGM, respectively. The four major substances found in the volatile oil were the arylpropanoids apiole (14.89%) and dillapiole (11.54%), and the monoterpenes 1,8-cineole (14.08%) and camphor (10.19%).

Automated summary

The study found that the volatile oil of Piper macedoi had leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania infantum amastigotes but exhibited significant cytotoxicity to different cell types. The major components in the volatile oil were apiole, dillapiole, 1,8-cineole, and camphor.