In VivoAntiprotozoal Activity of the Chloroform Extract fromCarica papayaSeeds against Amastigote Stage ofTrypanosoma cruziduring Indeterminate and Chronic Phase of Infection

Abstract

In order to evaluate the antiprotozoal activity of the chloroform extract ofCarica papayaseeds during the subacute and chronic phase of infection ofTrypanosoma cruzi, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg were evaluated during the subacute phase, including a mixture of their main components (oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids). Subsequently, doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg in mice during the chronic phase of infection (100 dpi) were also evaluated. It was found that chloroform extract was able to reduce the amastigote nests numbers during the subacute phase in 55.5 and 69.7% (P> 0.05) as well as in 56.45% in animals treated with the mixture of fatty acids. Moreover, the experimental groups treated with 50 and 75 mg/kg during the chronic phase of the infection showed a significant reduction of 46.8 and 53.13% respectively (P< 0.05). It is recommended to carry out more studies to determine if higher doses of chloroformic extract or its administration in combination with other antichagasic drugs allows a better response over the intracellular stage ofT. cruziin infected animal models and determine if the chloroform extract ofC. papayacould be considered as an alternative for treatment during the indeterminate and chronic phase of the infection.