Antileishmanial Activity of the Genus Piper: A Systematic Review
Caroline G. Macêdo
Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network, Federal University of Pará, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil and Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.
Kelly Christina F. Castro
Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Products and Bioactive (P&DBio), Federal University of West Pará, 68035-110 Santarém, PA, Brazil.
Edilene Oliveira da Silva *
2Laboratory of Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil and National Institute of Science and Technology in Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniases are anthropozoonotic vector-borne diseases, caused by the protozoan Leishmania spp. These diseases have significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and, as there are currently no vaccines available for their treatment, chemotherapy remains the mainstay for anti-leishmanial therapeutics. However, the severe side effects, reduced bioavailability, high cost and chemoresistance, amongst other problems, limit the use of available drugs. In recent years, natural compounds have shown promise as anti-leishmanial agents, especially those extracted from medicinal plants. The genus Piper has been used in traditional medicine and widely explored for its biological properties and bioactive phytocompounds.
Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review of the biological activity of the genus Piper against the etiological agents of leishmaniasis, to provide a perspective for effective and safe phytotherapics, new drugs or potentially active prototype chemical substances.
Methodology: This systematic review was prepared in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases used for this review were SciELO, Pubmed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, using a temporal profile of 2009 to 2020.
Conclusion: In this review, we summarize a wide range of isolated compounds, extracts and essential oils of the genus Piper that are worth screening given their potential for development as effective anti-leishmanial drugs.
Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Leishmania spp, Piperaceae, Piper, Phytotherapics, Natural products