Investigation of In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-leishmanial Activity of Auranofin on Leishmania Infantum

Purpose

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious health-threatening disease. Existing drugs are often toxic. So alternative treatments are constantly being considered and evaluated. This study aims to investigate Auranifin as potential new antileishmanial agent.

Methods

The fatality rate of different concentrations of auranofin (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 μg/ml) on promastigote and amastigote forms after 24 h was calculated. The induction apoptosis in promastigotes by auranofin was also analyzed. Then, Leishmania-infected mice were treated with a concentration of 6.25 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg of Auranofin. After 1 month, the liver and spleen of the euthanized mice were separated, smears were prepared and pathology slides were prepared from the spleen and liver. Blood cell counts and liver and kidney enzymes were analyzed using heart blood. Histopathological examinations were performed on liver and spleen after treatment.

Results

The fatality rate of auranofin at a concentration of 12 µg/ml on promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum 24 h after culture was 99.35% and 94.05%, respectively. Over 90% of promastigotes and amastigotes were killed at concentrations of 8 µg/ml and 12 µg/ml of auranofin, respectively. Flow cytometry showed a high apoptosis rate (93.73%) at a concentration of 12 μg/ml. In the control group (without auranofin) 99% of cells were alive. Histopathological examination of the spleen and liver tissues showed a decrease in the degree of granulomatous and inflammatory changes in the groups treated with auranofin. Blood factors as well as Liver and kidney enzymes showed changes in both the test and control groups.

Conclusion

Auranofin has anti-leishmanial properties in both promastigotes and amastigotes, further studies are neecessary to explore this aspect.