Ethyl Acetate Fraction of <i>Bixa orellana</i> and Its Component Ellagic Acid Exert Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties against <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> subsp. <i>massiliense</i>
Roberval Nascimento Moraes-Neto,
Gabrielle Guedes Coutinho,
Ana Caroline Santos Ataíde,
Aline de Oliveira Rezende,
Camila Evangelista Carnib Nascimento,
Rafaela Pontes de Albuquerque,
Cláudia Quintino da Rocha,
Adriana Sousa Rêgo,
Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes,
Ana Lúcia Abreu-Silva,
Igor Victor Ferreira dos Santos,
Cleydson Breno Rodrigues dos Santos,
Rosane Nassar Meireles Guerra,
Rachel Melo Ribeiro,
Valério Monteiro-Neto,
Eduardo Martins de Sousa,
Rafael Cardoso Carvalho
Affiliations
Roberval Nascimento Moraes-Neto
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Gabrielle Guedes Coutinho
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Ana Caroline Santos Ataíde
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Aline de Oliveira Rezende
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Camila Evangelista Carnib Nascimento
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Rafaela Pontes de Albuquerque
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Cláudia Quintino da Rocha
Graduate Program in Chemistry, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Adriana Sousa Rêgo
Graduate Program in Health and Services Management, CEUMA University—UniCEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, MA, Brazil
Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Ana Lúcia Abreu-Silva
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Igor Victor Ferreira dos Santos
Graduate Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity Network BIODSNORTE, Federal University of Amapá—UFAP, Macapá 68903-419, AP, Brazil
Cleydson Breno Rodrigues dos Santos
Graduate Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity Network BIODSNORTE, Federal University of Amapá—UFAP, Macapá 68903-419, AP, Brazil
Rosane Nassar Meireles Guerra
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Rachel Melo Ribeiro
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Valério Monteiro-Neto
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Eduardo Martins de Sousa
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Rafael Cardoso Carvalho
Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão—UFMA, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense (Mabs) causes chronic infections, which has led to the need for new antimycobacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of Bixa orellana leaves (BoEA) and ellagic acid (ElAc). In silico analysis predicted that ElAc had low toxicity, was not mutagenic or carcinogenic, and had antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Apparently, ElAc can interact with COX2 and Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzymes, which could explain both activities. In vitro analysis showed that BoEA and ElAc exerted antimicrobial activity against Mabs (minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56, 1.56 mg/mL and bactericidal concentration of 6.25, 3.12 mg/mL, respectively. Clarithromycin showed MIC and MBC of 1 and 6 µg/mL). Treatment with BoEA or ElAc increased survival of Tenebrio molitor larvae after lethal infection with Mabs and reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice, around 40% of edema volume after the fourth hour, similarly to diclofenac. In conclusion, BoEA and ElAc exert antimicrobial effects against Mabs and have anti-inflammatory effects, making them potential sources of antimycobacterial drugs. The biological activities of ElAc may be due to its high binding affinities predicted for COX2 and DHFR enzymes.
