In vitro growth inhibitory effect of selected 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid esters on Theileriaannulata.

ABSTRACT

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is one of the important Pentacyclic Triterpenoids (PT) found in the roots of licorice. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro growth inhibitory effect of 18ß-GA (18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid) and C-30 esters against Theileria annulata, the causative agent of Tropical Bovine Theileriosis. C-30 esters of 18ß-GA were synthesized and their structures were elucidated using spectroscopy. The pharmacodynamic properties of 18ß-GA and its C-30 esters were predicted using DataWarrior and Swiss ADME tools. Cattle isolates of T. annulata schizont-infected bovine lymphoblastoid cells were cultured using standard conditions and the growth inhibitory effect of GA and its esters were evaluated using MTT assay. The isopropyl ester of 18ß-GA (GI50- 1.638 µM; R2- 0.818) showed improved anti-theileriosis efficacy than other 18ß-GA derivatives. The propyl (GI50 - 5.549 µM), ethyl (GI50 - 5.638 µM), and benzyl (GI50 - 7.431 µM) esters also showed considerable inhibitory effect. The GI50 value for 18ß-GA was recorded as 6.829 µM. This study throws light on the usefulness of 18ß-GA and its esters for the treatment of Tropical Bovine Theileriosis.