O tratamento com extrato hidroalcoólico do fruto de Punica granatum L. controla a infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em células trofoblásticas humanas extravilosas (HTR-8/SVneo)

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. In immunocompetent individuals, this infection is usually asymptomatic. However, in pregnant women, congenital toxoplasmosis is more severe and is caused by the passage of tachyzoites through the placental barrier, reaching the fetus. In this context, the infection can cause several damages in the embryo development. The conventional treatment involves a combination of two drugs, sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine, but is impaired by the medication's toxicity and its side effects, especially in the early stage of pregnancy. Thus, it is essential to explore other therapeutic strategies, especially phytotherapy and medicinal plants, which may have less adverse reactions throughout the treatment. In this sense, many compounds from different plant species have been studied, showing therapeutic potentials. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is present in many studies highlighting its antifungal, antiviral, anti-metastatic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there are no studies showing its activity against T. gondii, especially in the maternal-fetal interface. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of the hidroalcoholic extract from the peel of P. granatum fruit on T. gondii infection in human extravillous trophoblastic cells (HTR-8/SVneo), in early and late stages. The cytotoxicity of the compound at different concentrations was evaluated, and it showed that only the highest concentration was toxic to the cells, while the others non-toxic controlled the intracellular parasite proliferation. Furthermore, pre-treating T. gondii tachyzoites with the extract changed the parasite's morphology, hindering its invasion and proliferation. In addition, the treatment with this compound also showed an irreversible antiparasitic reaction. Therefore, these studies concluded that treatment with the hidroalcoholic extract of P. granatum was effective in the infection control, proofing its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of the infection.