Efficacy of propolis extract and eye drop solutions to suppress encystation and excystation of Acanthamoeba triangularis WU19001-T4 genotype
Suthinee Sangkanu,
Abolghasem Siyadatpanah,
Roghayeh Norouzi,
Julalak Chuprom,
Watcharapong Mitsuwan,
Sirirat Surinkaew,
Rachasak Boonhok,
Alok K. Paul,
Tooba Mahboob,
Imran Sama-ae,
Sonia M. R. Oliveira,
Tajudeen O. Jimoh,
Maria de Lourdes Pereira,
Polrat Wilairatana,
Christophe Wiart,
Mohammed Rahmatullah,
Monvaris Sakolnapa,
Veeranoot Nissapatorn
Affiliations
Suthinee Sangkanu
School of Allied Health Sciences, Southeast Asia Water Team (SEA Water Team), World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Abolghasem Siyadatpanah
Department of Microbiology, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Roghayeh Norouzi
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
Julalak Chuprom
School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Watcharapong Mitsuwan
Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College and Research Center of Excellence in Innovation of Essential Oil, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Sirirat Surinkaew
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Rachasak Boonhok
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Alok K. Paul
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Tooba Mahboob
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Imran Sama-ae
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences and Center of Excellence Research for Melioidosis and Microorganisms, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Sonia M. R. Oliveira
CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Tajudeen O. Jimoh
Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Maria de Lourdes Pereira
CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Polrat Wilairatana
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Christophe Wiart
Institute for Tropical Biology & Conservation, University Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia
Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Monvaris Sakolnapa
School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Veeranoot Nissapatorn
School of Allied Health Sciences, Southeast Asia Water Team (SEA Water Team), World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), and Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Background Propolis is a natural resinous product from a variety of plants and combines it with beeswax and salivary enzymes to create bee glue. Its potentials have been employed in the treatment of many diseases and conditions for centuries. This study, therefore, aims to determine the anti-Acanthamoeba properties of the propolis extract, eye drops coupled to some mechanisms such as inhibition of encystation and excystation. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the most active propolis extract were assessed in trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba triangularis (A. triangularis) at 0.256 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. Results Active eye drops inhibited trophozoites and cysts with a MIC value of 100%. At concentrations lower than their MICs values (1/2–1/16 MIC), propolis and eye drops revealed inhibition of encystation. In addition, at 1/2 MIC, both the propolis extract and eye drops showed potential inhibition of excystation. In combined sets of propolis extract and eye drops, they showed slightly increasing inhibition of encystation and excystation. Surprisingly, the MIC of chlorhexidine decreased when combined with the propolis and eye drops. SEM and TEM images displayed morphological changes in A. triangularis treated with combined sets of propolis extract and eye drops. Conclusion From this study, a new combined eye drop solution with propolis extract was found to be helpful in reducing encystation and excystation in A. triangularis. Therefore, this combination is an alternative for the treatment of eye diseases in early stages along with reducing the entry into the cyst stage of Acanthamoeba. The results of this study revealed new anti-Acanthamoeba inhibitors with promising combined alternative therapeutic potential for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
