Evaluation of the efficacy of systemic miltefosine associated with photodynamic therapy with liposomal chloroaluminium phthalocyanine in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in C57BL/6 mice.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of drugs is a concern and has become the object of studies to discover effective alternatives for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) treatment. A topical formulation has been sought due to its low toxicity. Development of alternative therapies, such as multimodal ones, is important in confronting drug resistance. This study aims to compare the in vivo efficacy of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) using liposomal chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (AlClPC) in the treatment of CL, isolated and associated with systemic therapy with miltefosine. METHODS: Five groups were adopted, each one with six isogenic adult female mice C57BL/6: (1) Negative Control-non-infected and non-treated; (2) Positive Control (PBS)-infected and non-treated; (3) Miltefosine-infected and treated with oral miltefosine 200 mg/kg/day; (4) Infected and treated with PDT with topical AlClPC (500 µL) on alternate days; (5) Oral Miltefosine 200 mg/kg/day and PDT with topical AlClPC (500 µL) on alternate days. Therapeutic schemes lasted 20 days. Infection was confirmed by culture in Nove-McNeal-Nicolle medium (NNN) of lymph collected from the animal paw, and animals were evaluated by paw measurement and parasitological criteria. RESULTS: Miltefosine associated with PDT with AlClPC promoted a significant reduction in parasite number and viability when compared to the other infected groups, also returning the paw diameter to a size similar to the negative control group after 20 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Association of miltefosine with PDT mediated by topical AlClPC represents hopes for CL treatment, an increasing dermatological disease in some countries.

Leaf surfaces of Gomphrena spp. (Amaranthaceae) from Cerrado biome.

The leaf structure and micromorphology characterize plant species and reflex its interactions with the environment. Leaf epidermis sculptures aid high transpiration plants on light reflection. The form and distribution of epicuticular wax crystalloids are important to characterize the surface. Aiming to know the micromorphology and the ultrastructure of G. arborescens, G. pohlii and G. virgata, leaves of these Cerrado native species were collected in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, at the Olympic Center of the Universidade de Brasília and at Reserva Ecológica do Roncador. Leaves of G. globosa, an Indian native species, were also studied for comparison. Leaves were fractionated, fixed and treated for observation under optical and scanning electron microscope. A description of the leaf epidermis is provided, along with some quantitative data to help the species taxonomy and support future studies on their physiology: all species are amphistomatic and have Stomatal Index between 7.27 and 18.99. The Gomphrena spp. studied have epicuticular wax platelets and wax sculptures over their larger trichome, which are relevant for their taxonomy. Over the Cerrado species cuticle, epicuticular wax is damaged by fungi hyphae development. The presence of epicuticular wax on Gomphrena spp. leaves corroborates the phylogenetical alliance between Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae.

Leaf surfaces of Gomphrena spp. (Amaranthaceae) from Cerrado biome

The leaf structure and micromorphology characterize plant species and reflex its interactions with the environment. Leaf epidermis sculptures aid high transpiration plants on light reflection. The form and distribution of epicuticular wax crystalloids are important to characterize the surface. Aiming to know the micromorphology and the ultrastructure of G. arborescens, G. pohlii and G. virgata, leaves of these Cerrado native species were collected in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, at the Olympic Center of the Universidade de Brasília and at Reserva Ecológica do Roncador. Leaves of G. globosa, an Indian native species, were also studied for comparison. Leaves were fractionated, fixed and treated for observation under optical and scanning electron microscope. A description of the leaf epidermis is provided, alo ng with some quantitative data to help the species taxonomy and support future studies on their physiology: all species are amphistomatic and have Stomatal Index between 7.27 and 18.99. The Gomphrena spp. studied have epicuticular wax platelets and wax sculptures over their larger trichome, which are relevant for their taxonomy. Over the Cerrado species cuticle, epicuticular wax is damaged by fungi hyphae development. The presence of epicuticular wax on Gomphrena spp. leaves corroborates the phylogenetical alliance between Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae.

Leaf surfaces of Gomphrena spp. (Amaranthaceae) from Cerrado biome

The leaf structure and micromorphology characterize plant species and reflex its interactions with the environment. Leaf epidermis sculptures aid high transpiration plants on light reflection. The form and distribution of epicuticular wax crystalloids are important to characterize the surface. Aiming to know the micromorphology and the ultrastructure of G. arborescens, G. pohlii and G. virgata, leaves of these Cerrado native species were collected in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, at the Olympic Center of the Universidade de Brasília and at Reserva Ecológica do Roncador. Leaves of G. globosa, an Indian native species, were also studied for comparison. Leaves were fractionated, fixed and treated for observation under optical and scanning electron microscope. A description of the leaf epidermis is provided, alo ng with some quantitative data to help the species taxonomy and support future studies on their physiology: all species are amphistomatic and have Stomatal Index between 7.27 and 18.99. The Gomphrena spp. studied have epicuticular wax platelets and wax sculptures over their larger trichome, which are relevant for their taxonomy. Over the Cerrado species cuticle, epicuticular wax is damaged by fungi hyphae development. The presence of epicuticular wax on Gomphrena spp. leaves corroborates the phylogenetical alliance between Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae.(AU)