Ursolic Acid Potentializes Conventional Therapy in Experimental Leishmaniasis
Jéssica Adriana Jesus1, Thays Nicolli Fragoso da Silva1, Eduardo Seiji Yamamoto1
1Laboratory of Pathology of Infectious Diseases (LIM50), Department of Pathology, Medical School of São Paulo University, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 23, 2020
Summary
Combining ursolic acid with conventional drugs enhances leishmaniasis treatment efficacy. This combination therapy shows increased parasite elimination and improved immune responses against leishmaniasis.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Ursolic acid (UA) exhibits diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-leishmanial effects.
- Conventional drugs for leishmaniasis, such as amphotericin B (AmB) and glucantime (Glu), have limitations in efficacy and toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of combining UA with AmB or Glu in experimental visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis models.
- To assess the impact of combination therapy on parasite burden and host immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Experimental visceral leishmaniasis was induced in hamsters infected with *L. (L.) infantum* and treated with AmB ± UA.
- Experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis was induced in BALB/c mice infected with *L. (L.) amazonensis* and treated with Glu ± UA.
- Parasitism, cellular immune responses (IFN-γ), and lesion progression were analyzed post-treatment.
Main Results:
- AmB combined with UA significantly reduced hepatic and splenic parasite loads in visceral leishmaniasis, unlike AmB monotherapy.
- Combination therapy with Glu and UA demonstrated superior leishmanicidal activity and lesion improvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis compared to Glu monotherapy.
- The enhanced efficacy of combination therapy correlated with increased IFN-γ production.
Conclusions:
- Combination therapy of UA with AmB or Glu offers a promising strategy to increase treatment efficiency for leishmaniasis.
- This approach may help reduce the toxicity associated with conventional leishmaniasis drugs.
- Further research into UA-based combination therapies could lead to improved leishmaniasis treatment outcomes.
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