Leaf Methanolic Extract Acts AgainstParasites by Inducing Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Hyperpolarization.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

The neglected Chagas disease, a zoonosis caused by theparasite, has limited treatment options like nifurtimox and benznidazole, known for their toxic effects and controversial efficacy. Natural products present opportunities for therapeutic alternatives, particularly in Chile, which has a rich variety of endemic flora. This study focused on the Chilean, evaluating the antioxidant activities and biological effects of its methanolic extract (MET) and BG500, an enriched iridoid fraction (6--methylcatalpol), againsttrypomastigotes. Although the trypanocidal activity of the extract was significantly lower than that of nifurtimox (280 ± 3.5 vs. 5.0 ± 0.5), its selectivity was comparable (selectivity index > 15). The MET and enriched fraction also induced hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). In silico docking studies suggested that's Old Yellow (OYE) could be a potential target for 6--methylcatalpol. This work provides the first report on the potential trypanocidal activity of aextract, highlighting the need for further studies to connect ΔΨm and OYE inhibition to the effects of 6--methylcatalpol.