EVALUATION OF THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF PIPLARTINE AND ITS DERIVATIVE ON PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES OF SWISS MICE INFECTED WITH LEISHMANIA AMAZONENSIS

Piplartine is an amide obtained from Piper tuberculatum, which is promising in antiparasitic tests. Therefore, it has been used as the basis for the synthesis of new molecules. This study was designed to analyze the immunomodulatory effect of piplartine (A) and its derivative (B), in-vitro, on macrophages infected with Leihmania amazonensis, as well as the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitric oxide (NO) and lipid bodies. Were evaluated by staining with giemsa and counting the cells under optical microscopy; labeling with tetramethyl benzidine and peroxidase type II; Greiss reagent and oil red, respectively, with amides A and B concentrations ranging from 0.0 to 64 μg/mL. Modulation of the immune system was observed. There was a decrease in the infection index at the highest concentration (64 μg/mL) for A and B in infected macrophages. Amide A (4 μg/mL) reduced the H₂O₂ production of infected macrophages by 99.3% compared to control. Cultures treated with A and B increases the NO production at 16 μg/mL and 0.25 μg/mL, respectively. The production of lipid bodies by infected macrophages treated at 64 μg/mL of A decreased when compared to the control macrophage infected with Leishmania. When derivative B was used, the percentage of infected macrophages with lipid bodies increased at concentrations 0.25 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL and 16 μg/mL. Compounds A and B have shown promise for the treatment of leishmaniasis and suggest the continuity of preclinical studies to assess their effects in-vivo.