Avaliação do potencial antimalárico de Norantea brasiliensis Choisy (Marcgraviaceae) cultivada in vitro e in vivo

Abstract

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. The treatment is accomplished through the use of drugs such as chloroquine, since there is no effective vaccine against the disease. However, the resistance of parasites to drugs has led to the search for new antimalarial substances, including vegetable. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the antimalarial activity of methanol extracts of Norantea brasiliensis grown under conditions in vivo and in vitro, native species occurring in salt marshes, with proven medicinal potential for various activities. Protocols were developed callus and culture of roots of species in order to define a system for production of metabolites. For in vitro culture, explants were inoculated in liquid and solid media containing different growth regulators and concentrations. From the tissue culture material were tested extracts biotechnologically produced for comparison with plant material grown in the field. Tests on the potential in vivo antimalarial were performed using mice were infected by Plasmodium berghei ANKA, and in vitro using the Plasmodium falciparum. They were then administered chloroquine and plant extracts. The parasitemia was observed following the protocols established by the Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC). Results showed that stem and leaf explants of in vitro germinated seedlings were inoculated on B5 solid medium supplemented with 2.0 mg.mL-1 ANA, are the best sources for the production of roots, with highest values of fresh weight and dry weight and proved to be a promising system for in vitro production of metabolites of the species. The assessment of antimalarial activity in vivo has shown its potential to extract from plant roots grown in vivo at a concentration of 50 mg/kg showing significant reduction of parasitemia when compared with the untreated control. Similarly, in in vitro tests the concentration of 100 μg/kg of extract of roots of plants grown in vivo showed a significant difference when compared with other tested concentrations and negative control. Furthermore, there is a tendency to increase the inhibitory effect with increasing extract concentration. The results indicate the potential for antimalarial activity in roots of N. brasiliensis, which is the first study conducted for the species.