Burchellin: effects on Triatoma infestans and on Trypanosoma cruzi within this vector.

Abstract

Supplementation of blood with the neolignan burchellin (50 microg/ml), a compound from the arboreous Lauraceae Aniba burchelli, affected the ingestion of blood and the course of excretion of fourth- and fifth-instar larvae of Triatoma infestans, the latter especially within the first 4 h after feeding. The total resultant weight loss of treated fourth instars within 24 and 48 h after feeding was only 24% and 28% vs 41% and 48%, respectively, in untreated bugs. In fifth instars, the total weight losses of untreated bugs within 24 and 48 h after feeding were 38% and 41% whereas the weight of treated bugs decreased by 28% and 34%, respectively. In a treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected fourth instars, burchellin significantly reduced the population density of the established infection in the rectum at 5 and 10 days after feeding. This was especially due to a significant increase in the number of the main dividing stage, the epimastigote.

• Authors: M M Cabral, P Azambuja, O R Gottlieb, T Kleffmann, E S Garcia, G A Schaub
• Journal: Parasitology research (Parasitol Res) Vol. 87 Issue 9 Pg. 730-5 (Sep 2001) ISSN: 0932-0113 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 11570558 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzofurans
• burchellin

Topics

• Animals
• Benzofurans (pharmacology)
• Chagas Disease (parasitology)
• Feeding Behavior (drug effects)
• Host-Parasite Interactions
• Insect Vectors (drug effects, parasitology)
• Lauraceae (chemistry)
• Mice
• Population Density
• Triatoma (drug effects, parasitology)
• Trypanosoma cruzi (drug effects, growth & development)