(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-Gallate as a New Approach for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis.

ABSTRACT

In addition to generating side effects and resistance, treatment for visceral leishmaniasis remains mostly ineffective and expensive, and it has a long duration. Thus, natural products are an important alternative for treatment of the disease. In this study, we demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo activity of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (1) against Leishmania infantum. Compound 1 reduced the infection index with an EC50 value of 2.6 µM. Oral administration of 1 on L. infantum-infected BALB/c mice was capable to reduce the liver-parasite load with a ED50 and ED90 value of 12.4 and 21.5 mg/kg/day, respectively. Together, the results demonstrated 1 as a new compound for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.