Effectiveness of phytoproducts against pathogenic free-living amoebae - A scoping and critical review paving the way toward plant-based pharmaceuticals.

Beni Jequicene Mussengue Chaúque, Marilise Brittes Rott, Régis Adriel Zanette, Thaisla Cristiane Borella da Silva, Guilherme Brittes Benitez, Eduardo Brittes Rott, Felipe Brittes Rott, Ana Paula Marçal Copetti Leite, Neuana Fernando Neuana, José Roberto Goldim

Journal: Fitoterapia 2025;182():106404

PMID: 39922391

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Infections caused by free-living amoebae (FLA) have increased worldwide and are expected to worsen. The lack of drugs that are effective (especially against cysts), affordable, and safe to treat these infections exacerbates the concern. Plants present a promising source of bioactive compounds for developing effective drugs; however, the scientific literature on this topic has yet to be adequately synthesized. This work provides a critical scoping review summarizing the amoebicidal performance of plant-derived products and their potential for developing effective drugs to treat FLA infections. Out of 5889 articles retrieved from multiple databases, 119 articles were selected, from which data on 180 plant species belonging to 127 genera and 62 families were extracted. The extracts, essential oils, and compounds from these plants exhibited a diverse range of potency against cysts and trophozoites. Among the compounds studied, periglaucine A, kolavenic acid, and (+)-elatol are promising cysticidal drug candidates due to their high potency, as well as their known low toxicity to non-target cells. Tovophillin A, gartinin, 8-deoxygartinin, garcinone E, 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone, γ-mangostin, and borneol also exhibit high cysticidal potency, but their selectivity profile is unknown. Resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, β-amyrin, and vanillic acid stand out for their high potency against trophozoites and low toxicity to mammalian cells. Another group of compounds with similarly high trophocidal potency includes (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, apigenin, costunolide, demethoxycurcumin, kaempferol, methyl-β-orcinolcarboxylate, sakuraetin, (+)-elatol, debromolaurinterol, luteolin, (-)-rogiolol, cystomexicone B, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, and α-bisabolol. These compounds are priority candidates for further studies on in vivo efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

Address: Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UFRGS, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Postdoctoral fellow at Master's Program in Clinical Research (MPPC) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) (CAPES Pilot Program), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Center of Studies in Science and Technology (NECET), Biology Course, Universidade Rovuma, Niassa Branch, Lichinga, Mozambique. Electronic address: [email protected].; Protozoology Laboratory, Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology Department, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2600, 90035-002 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.; Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil.; Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Brazil.; Industrial and Systems Engineering Graduate Program, Polytechnic School, Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR), Brazil.; Center of Studies in Science and Technology (NECET), Biology Course, Universidade Rovuma, Niassa Branch, Lichinga, Mozambique; Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88040900, Brazil.; Postdoctoral fellow at Master's Program in Clinical Research (MPPC) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) (CAPES Pilot Program), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].; Protozoology Laboratory, Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology Department, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2600, 90035-002 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].; Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UFRGS, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106404

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MeSH Terms: Phytochemicals, Amoeba, Plant Extracts, Amebicides, Oils, Volatile, Humans