Licochalcone a exhibits leishmanicidal activity in vitro and in experimental model of Leishmania. - GreenMedInfo Summary

The efficacy of Licochalcone A (LicoA) and its two analogs were reported againstand, and in experimental model of. Initially, LicoA and its analogs were screened against promastigote forms of. LicoA was the most active compound, with ICvalues of 20.26 and 3.88μM at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Against amastigote forms, the ICvalue of LicoA was 36.84μM at 48 h. In the next step, the effectivity of LicoA was evaluatedagainst promastigote and amastigote forms of. Results demonstrated that LicoA exhibited leishmanicidal activityagainst promastigote forms with ICvalues of 41.10 and 12.47μM at 24 and 48 h, respectively; against amastigote forms the ICvalue was 29.58μM at 48 h. Assessment of cytotoxicity demonstrated that LicoA exhibited moderate mammalian cytotoxicity against peritoneal murine macrophages; the CCvalue was 123.21μM at 48 h and showed about 30% of hemolytic activity at concentration of 400 μM.infected hamsters and treated with LicoA at 50 mg/kg for eight consecutive days was able to significantly reduce the parasite burden in both liver and spleen in 43.67 and 39.81%, respectively, when compared with negative control group. These findings suggest that chalcone-type flavonoids can be a promising class of natural products to be considered in the search of new, safe, and effective compounds capable to treat canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL).