Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a non-contagious infectious-parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania sp. It is considered a neglected tropical disease and involves public health issues because it affects socially vulnerable populations. The therapy recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health as the standard treatment for CL presents numerous challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to look for alternative treatments that are more effective and safer without any side effects on the patients. The phenolic compound methyl gallate (MTG) is an alternative candidate for study due to its antileishmanial biological activity. Methyl gallate has shown considerable biological activity against Leishmania amazonensis. Thus, investigating the potential of this compound in combination with Glucantime® and Pentacarinat® against Leishmania species and evaluating its cytotoxic profile is critical in the treatment and management of CL. The experimental design involved in vitro assays with promastigotes of L. amazonensis and L. guyanensis to evaluate the antileishmanial inhibitory activity of methyl gallate in monotherapy and in combination with conventional treatments, as well as to assess its cytotoxic profile using peritoneal macrophages extracted from BALB/c mice. As a result of the antileishmanial activity test, methyl gallate showed parasite inhibitory activity against L. amazonensis and L. guyanensis promastigotes, both in monotherapy and in combination with the conventional CL drugs. Methyl gallate or its combinations did not show any signs of cytotoxicity. These results provide a basis for future studies on this polyphenolic compound as a potential alternative drug for development and adoption in the therapeutic protocol for CL treatment.

Key words: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, neglected tropical diseases, methyl gallate, combination therapy, in vitro assays.