Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of essential oils extracted from Caatinga Myrtaceae species and chemical composition of Eugenia pohliana DC.

Abstract

The current trichomoniasis treatment is restrict to 5-nitroimidazole drugs and the emergence of resistant isolates points the need for new therapeutical alternatives. In this study the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of essential oils obtained from Myrtaceae occurring in Caatinga, a plant family with potential antiparasitic activity, was showed. The essential oils varied in their capacity to kill ATCC and fresh clinical T. vaginalis isolates, which was associated with heterogeneity and different patterns of endosymbiosis. Essential oils caused moderate to strong cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, but essential oil of Eugenia pohliana (EOEp) exhibited promising selectivity index towards vaginal epithelial cells. A checkerboard assay revealed a synergistic effect when EOEp and metronidazole were associated, indicating different mechanisms of action. The GC/MS analysis demonstrated the volatile composition of EOEp, with δ-cadinene as majoritary component. This molecule seems to contribute to the trichomonacidal effect and shows potential for the prospection of new antiparasitic compounds.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Trichomoniasis
• Trichomonas vaginalis
• essential oil
• Myrtaceae
• Caatinga

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq/Brazil) Universal 2018 grant (#428538/2018-5). S.A.M. thanks CNPq for doctorate fellowship. M.T.S.C. (grant 310621/2018-6) and T.T. (grant 312292/2017-1), thank CNPq for researcher fellowships.