TY - JOUR

T1 - The antileishmanial agent licochalcone A interferes with the function of parasite mitochondria

AU - Zhai, L

AU - Blom, J

AU - Chen, M

AU - Christensen, S B

AU - Kharazmi, A

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cell Survival; Chalcone; Chalcones; Chemiluminescent Measurements; Leishmania major; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria; Monocytes; Oxidoreductases; Oxygen Consumption; Phagocytosis

PY - 1995

Y1 - 1995

N2 - Our previous studies have shown that licochalcone A, an oxygenated chalcone, has antileishmanial (M. Chen, S.B. Christensen, J. Blom, E. Lemmich, L. Nadelmann, K. Fich, T.G. Theander, and A. Kharazmi, Antimicrob, Agents Chemother. 37:2550-2556, 1993; M. Chen, S.B. Christensen, T.G. Theander, and A. Khrazmi, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 38:1339-1344, 1994) and antimalarial (M. Chen, T.G. Theander, S.B. Christensen, L. Hviid, L. Zhai, and A. Kaharazmi, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 38:1470-1475, 1994) activities. We have observed that licochalcone A alters the ultrastructure of the mitochondria of Leishmania promastigotes (Chen et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37:2550-2556, 1993). The present study was designed to examine this observation further and investigate the mechanism of action of antileishmanial activity of licochalcone A. Electron microscopic studies showed that licochalcone A altered the ultrastructure of Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner without damaging the organelles of macrophages or the phagocytic function of these cells. Studies on the function of the parasite mitochondria showed that licochalcone A inhibited the respiration of the parasite by the parasites. Moreover, licochalcone A inhibited the activity of the parasite mitochondrial dehydrogenase. The inhibition of the activity of the parasite mitochondrial enzyme correlated well with the changes in the ultrastructure of the mitochondria shown by electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate that licochalcone A alters the ultrastructure and function of the mitochondria of Leishmania parasites.

AB - Our previous studies have shown that licochalcone A, an oxygenated chalcone, has antileishmanial (M. Chen, S.B. Christensen, J. Blom, E. Lemmich, L. Nadelmann, K. Fich, T.G. Theander, and A. Kharazmi, Antimicrob, Agents Chemother. 37:2550-2556, 1993; M. Chen, S.B. Christensen, T.G. Theander, and A. Khrazmi, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 38:1339-1344, 1994) and antimalarial (M. Chen, T.G. Theander, S.B. Christensen, L. Hviid, L. Zhai, and A. Kaharazmi, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 38:1470-1475, 1994) activities. We have observed that licochalcone A alters the ultrastructure of the mitochondria of Leishmania promastigotes (Chen et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37:2550-2556, 1993). The present study was designed to examine this observation further and investigate the mechanism of action of antileishmanial activity of licochalcone A. Electron microscopic studies showed that licochalcone A altered the ultrastructure of Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner without damaging the organelles of macrophages or the phagocytic function of these cells. Studies on the function of the parasite mitochondria showed that licochalcone A inhibited the respiration of the parasite by the parasites. Moreover, licochalcone A inhibited the activity of the parasite mitochondrial dehydrogenase. The inhibition of the activity of the parasite mitochondrial enzyme correlated well with the changes in the ultrastructure of the mitochondria shown by electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate that licochalcone A alters the ultrastructure and function of the mitochondria of Leishmania parasites.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8593012

VL - 39

SP - 2742

EP - 2748

JO - Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

JF - Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

SN - 0066-4804

IS - 12

ER -