First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i>
The increasing resistance of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> to the only approved chemical family of drugs for treatment, the 5-nitroimidazoles, has prompted the exploration of new therapeutic agents against this prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Natural products have emer...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Microbiology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/5/96 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327358649040896 |
|---|---|
| author | Alexia Brauner de Mello Juliana Montelli Fenalti Bruna Baccega Yan Wahast Islabão Filipe Obelar Martins Paloma Taborda Birmann Angela Maria Casaril Tallyson Nogueira Barbosa Angela Sena-Lopes Francieli Liz Monteiro Lucielli Savegnago Sibele Borsuk Silvia de Oliveira Hubner Nara de Amélia da Rosa Farias Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Camila Belmonte Oliveira |
| author_facet | Alexia Brauner de Mello Juliana Montelli Fenalti Bruna Baccega Yan Wahast Islabão Filipe Obelar Martins Paloma Taborda Birmann Angela Maria Casaril Tallyson Nogueira Barbosa Angela Sena-Lopes Francieli Liz Monteiro Lucielli Savegnago Sibele Borsuk Silvia de Oliveira Hubner Nara de Amélia da Rosa Farias Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Camila Belmonte Oliveira |
| author_sort | Alexia Brauner de Mello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing resistance of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> to the only approved chemical family of drugs for treatment, the 5-nitroimidazoles, has prompted the exploration of new therapeutic agents against this prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Natural products have emerged as a significant source of novel treatments for trichomoniasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-<i>T. vaginalis</i> activity of citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), the main constituent of the essential oil of <i>Cymbopogon</i> species, commonly known as lemongrass. Our findings indicate that citral exhibits a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 100 μM, effectively inhibiting the growth of <i>T. vaginalis</i> trophozoites within 12 h of exposure, and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC<sub>50</sub>) of approximately 40 μM after 24 h. Furthermore, the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) levels suggests that citral possesses antioxidant properties. Molecular docking studies reveal a weak interaction with three parasite proteins: thioredoxin reductase (TvTrxR), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (TvPNP), and methionine gamma lyase (TvMGL). The present study highlights the potential of citral as a candidate for the development of no-nitroimidazole drugs, offering new avenues for trichomoniasis treatment and underscoring the importance of further investigation into citral’s mechanism of action. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9f54d45adb24419b87c039a7c12e2e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2036-7481 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9f54d45adb24419b87c039a7c12e2e92025-08-20T03:47:54ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812025-05-011659610.3390/microbiolres16050096First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i>Alexia Brauner de Mello0Juliana Montelli Fenalti1Bruna Baccega2Yan Wahast Islabão3Filipe Obelar Martins4Paloma Taborda Birmann5Angela Maria Casaril6Tallyson Nogueira Barbosa7Angela Sena-Lopes8Francieli Liz Monteiro9Lucielli Savegnago10Sibele Borsuk11Silvia de Oliveira Hubner12Nara de Amélia da Rosa Farias13Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano14Camila Belmonte Oliveira15Laboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilResearch Group in Neurobiotechnology, Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Center for Technological Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilResearch Group in Neurobiotechnology, Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Center for Technological Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Infectious-Parasitic Biotechnology, Center for Technology and Development, Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Infectious-Parasitic Biotechnology, Center for Technology and Development, Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Virology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilResearch Group in Neurobiotechnology, Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Center for Technological Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Infectious-Parasitic Biotechnology, Center for Technology and Development, Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Virology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-900, BrazilLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainLaboratory of Protozoology and Entomology. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, BrazilThe increasing resistance of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> to the only approved chemical family of drugs for treatment, the 5-nitroimidazoles, has prompted the exploration of new therapeutic agents against this prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Natural products have emerged as a significant source of novel treatments for trichomoniasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-<i>T. vaginalis</i> activity of citral (3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal), the main constituent of the essential oil of <i>Cymbopogon</i> species, commonly known as lemongrass. Our findings indicate that citral exhibits a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 100 μM, effectively inhibiting the growth of <i>T. vaginalis</i> trophozoites within 12 h of exposure, and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC<sub>50</sub>) of approximately 40 μM after 24 h. Furthermore, the evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) levels suggests that citral possesses antioxidant properties. Molecular docking studies reveal a weak interaction with three parasite proteins: thioredoxin reductase (TvTrxR), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (TvPNP), and methionine gamma lyase (TvMGL). The present study highlights the potential of citral as a candidate for the development of no-nitroimidazole drugs, offering new avenues for trichomoniasis treatment and underscoring the importance of further investigation into citral’s mechanism of action.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/5/96natural productssexually transmitted infectiontrichomoniasisnitric oxidelemongrass |
| spellingShingle | Alexia Brauner de Mello Juliana Montelli Fenalti Bruna Baccega Yan Wahast Islabão Filipe Obelar Martins Paloma Taborda Birmann Angela Maria Casaril Tallyson Nogueira Barbosa Angela Sena-Lopes Francieli Liz Monteiro Lucielli Savegnago Sibele Borsuk Silvia de Oliveira Hubner Nara de Amélia da Rosa Farias Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Camila Belmonte Oliveira First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> Microbiology Research natural products sexually transmitted infection trichomoniasis nitric oxide lemongrass |
| title | First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> |
| title_full | First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> |
| title_fullStr | First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> |
| title_short | First Insights into the Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Citral (3,7-Dimethyl-2, 6-Octadienal) Against <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> |
| title_sort | first insights into the biological activity and molecular docking of citral 3 7 dimethyl 2 6 octadienal against i trichomonas vaginalis i |
| topic | natural products sexually transmitted infection trichomoniasis nitric oxide lemongrass |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/5/96 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexiabraunerdemello firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT julianamontellifenalti firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT brunabaccega firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT yanwahastislabao firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT filipeobelarmartins firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT palomatabordabirmann firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT angelamariacasaril firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT tallysonnogueirabarbosa firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT angelasenalopes firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT francielilizmonteiro firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT luciellisavegnago firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT sibeleborsuk firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT silviadeoliveirahubner firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT naradeameliadarosafarias firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT alexandraibanezescribano firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi AT camilabelmonteoliveira firstinsightsintothebiologicalactivityandmoleculardockingofcitral37dimethyl26octadienalagainstitrichomonasvaginalisi |