Resumo

CHAGAS, Anadeiva Portela; HENRIQUE MULLER, Adolfo; SOARES, Milene  e  GARCEZ, Lourdes Maria. Anti-Leishmania and immunomodulatory potential of extracts of Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae). Rev Pan-Amaz Saude [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.1, pp.117-124. ISSN 2176-6215.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S2176-62232010000100017.

Infusions of leaves, bark and seeds of Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae) are used by communities of African-American descendants of slaves (quilombolas) mainly for treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), wounds, ulcers and tinea. Hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of C. laurifolia were investigated for anti-Leishmania activity on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and immunomodulatory responses, including cell proliferation of splenocytes and NO production by peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. The hydroalcoholic extracts of the bark and the aqueous extracts of the leaves and seeds presented a reduced activity against amastigotes and promastigotes (<20%), and the same result was observed for the inhibition of NO production by activated macrophages (<23%). Most of the extracts displayed a moderate immunosuppressive potential (32.6 to 38.5%); on the other hand, the aqueous extracts of seeds inhibited up to 87% of the growth of splenocytes of BALB/c mice stimulated with mitogens. Such activity may explain the use of C. laurifolia for the treatment of CL by quilombolas. Its use may not be mainly associated with a direct action on the parasite but with an anti-inflammatory activity because such activity decreases the tissue damage caused by the immune system in response to the infection and, consequently, aids the healing process of Leishmanial lesions.

Palavras-chave : Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Fabaceae; Leishmaniasis; Immunosuppression.

        · resumo em Português | Espanhol     · texto em Português | Inglês | Espanhol     · Português ( pdf ) | Inglês ( pdf ) | Espanhol ( pdf )