Ultrastructural Changes and Death ofLeishmania infantumPromastigotes Induced byMorinda citrifoliaLinn. Fruit (Noni) Juice Treatment

Abstract

The search for new treatments against leishmaniasis has increased due to high frequency of drug resistance registered in endemics areas, side effects, and complications caused by coinfection with HIV.Morinda citrifoliaLinn., commonly known as Noni, has a rich chemical composition and various therapeutic effects have been described in the literature. Studies have shown the leishmanicidal activity ofM. citrifolia; however, its action on the parasite has not yet been elucidated. In this work, we analyzed leishmanicidal activity and ultrastructural changes inLeishmania infantumpromastigotes caused byM. citrifoliafruit juice treatment.M. citrifoliafruit extract showed a yield of 6.31% and high performance liquid chromatography identified phenolic and aromatic compounds as the major constituents. IC50values were 260.5 µg/mL for promastigotes and 201.3 µg/mL for intracellular amastigotes ofL. infantumtreated withM. citrifolia. Cytotoxicity assay with J774.G8 macrophages showed thatM. citrifoliafruit juice was not toxic up to 2 mg/mL. Transmission electron microscopy showed cytoplasmic vacuolization, lipid inclusion, increased exocytosis activity, and autophagosome-like vesicles inL. infantumpromastigotes treated withM. citrifoliafruit juice.M. citrifoliafruit juice was active againstL. infantumin thein vitromodel used here causing ultrastructural changes and has a future potential for treatment against leishmaniasis.