Leishmanicidal and apoptotic activities of oleuropein on Leishmania major
Abstract.
Background: Leishmania is a unicellular protozoan parasite causing a wide
range of human diseases ranging from localized self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic effects of oleuropein on Leishmania major promastigotes (MHOM/SA/84/JISH) and to compare its effects with the reference drug sodium stibogluconate (pentostam).
Methods:
Cytotoxicity and promastigote proliferation were measured using MTT colorimetric assay. Furthermore, the Annexin V/propidium iodide staining technique followed by flow cytometry was used for studying the cell death properties of oleuropein. Results: In the present report we have shown that oleuropein, a pharmacologically safe, natural product of olive leaf, has a potent leishmanicidal effect. Indeed, oleuropein exhibits cytotoxic
and anti-proliferative effects against Leishmania major promastigotes. Moreover,
oleuropein triggers death through apoptosis, whereas pentostam induces death mainly via necrosis on Leishmania major promastigotes.
Conclusion: Here we demonstrate for the first time that the non-toxic, natural
product oleuropein has apoptotic properties against Leishmania major promastigotes. Further studies are needed to investigate its
molecular pathway.
Key words: oleuropein – Leishmania major – cytotoxicity – apoptosis
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