Siparuna guianensis Controls Toxoplasma gondii Infection In Vitro

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the mandatory intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii , is a cosmopolitan disease that affects one-third of the world population. The anti- T. gondii in vitro potential of ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate, aqueous fractions, volatile oil, and α-bisabolol isolated from Siparuna guianensis Aubl., Siparunaceae, was evaluated by the β-galactosidase assay in two experimental conditions using T. gondii strain RH-2F1. The ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction showed cytotoxic activity against fibroblasts only at the highest concentrations (250 and 500 μg/ml) and the volatile oil at a concentration of 500 μg/ml. The tested fractions partially controlled the intracellular proliferation of the parasite, when the treatment was carried out after cell infection. Inhibitory effect of parasitism was most strongly observed in the pre-treatment of parasites before cell infection with the ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction, showing a direct effect on the parasite. Graphical abstract