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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice
Published on: February 20, 2020
Development of a microemulsion loaded with epoxy-α-lapachone against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis murine
Juliana Figueiredo Peixoto1, Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira1, Franklin Souza-Silva2
1Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Abstract:
Epoxy-α-lapachone (ELAP), an oxirane-functionalized molecule synthesized from naturally occurring lapachol, has shown promising activity against murine infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Herein, we report the successful development of oil-in-water-type (o/w) microemulsions (ME) loaded with ELAP (ELAP-ME) using Capmul MCM, Labrasol, and PEG 400. Stability studies revealed that ELAP-ME (100 µg/mL of ELAP), which was comprised of globule size smaller than 120.4 ± 7.7 nm, displayed a good stability profile over 73 days. ELAP-ME had an effect in BALB/c mice infected with L. (L.) amazonensis, causing reductions in paw lesions after two weeks of treatment (∼2-fold) when compared to untreated animals. Furthermore, there was also a reduction in the parasite load both in the footpad (60.3%) and in the lymph nodes (31.5%). Based on these findings, ELAP-ME emerges as a promising treatment for tegumentar leishmaniasis.
