Maria Athana Mpalantinos

Dr. Maria Athana Mpalantinos


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 June 2025 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FSFlora Fernanda Schulze Spíndola
Flora Fernanda Schulze Spíndola
APAnderson S. Pinheiro
Anderson S. Pinheiro
MMMaria Athana Mpalantinos
Maria Athana Mpalantinos
JSJefferson R. A. Silva
Jefferson R. A. Silva
WNWalter Sotto Mayor Fernandes Neto
Walter Sotto Mayor Fernandes Neto
IRIgor Almeida Rodrigues
Igor Almeida Rodrigues
Background/Objectives: The anti-Leishmania potential of Curcuma longa and its derivatives, such as curcuminoids, is well-established, yet their mechanisms of action remain underexplored. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of C. longa extracts and curcumin on Leishmania infantum arginase, a key enzyme in polyamine and trypanothione biosynthesis, and evaluates their antiparasitic activity. Methods: Extracts were prepared via rhizome successive maceration with hexane (HEXCURC), dichloromethane (DCCURC), and ethanol (ETOHCURC) and chemically characterized by a combination of chromatographic and spectrometric methods. The inhibition of recombinant L. infantum arginase (LiARG) was assessed by urea quantification, while molecular docking explored interactions between the main compounds annotated in the extracts and the enzyme’s active site. Biological activity was tested against L. infantum promastigotes, intracellular amastigotes, and mammalian cells. Results: LC-MS and GC-MS revealed curcuminoids and turmerones as main compounds annotated in the extracts. DCCURC, HEXCURC, and curcumin showed the strongest LiARG inhibition (IC50 = 10.04, 14.4, and 17.55 μg/mL, respectively). Docking analysis revealed that curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin bind near the active site, with binding energies of –3.43, –4.14, and –3.99 kcal/mol, respectively. Curcumin demonstrated superior anti-promastigote activity (IC50 = 15.01 μg/mL) and selectivity (SI = 12.7) compared to the extracts. It also significantly reduced amastigote burden in infected macrophages (IC50 = 13.6 μg/mL). Conclusions: This is the first report demonstrating that C. longa extracts and curcumin inhibit LiARG. These findings support curcumin’s potential as a lead compound for developing multi-target therapies against leishmaniasis, combining enzyme inhibition with direct antiparasitic effects.