Violacein extracted from Chromobacterium violaceum inhibits Plasmodium growth in vitro and in vivo

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 May;53(5):2149-52. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00693-08. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Abstract

Violacein is a violet pigment extracted from the gram-negative bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum. It presents bactericidal, tumoricidal, trypanocidal, and antileishmanial activities. We show that micromolar concentrations efficiently killed chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains in vitro; inhibited parasitemia in vivo, even after parasite establishment; and protected Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi-infected mice from a lethal challenge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials* / chemistry
  • Antimalarials* / isolation & purification
  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Chromobacterium / metabolism*
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Indoles* / chemistry
  • Indoles* / isolation & purification
  • Indoles* / pharmacology
  • Indoles* / therapeutic use
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Parasitemia / drug therapy
  • Parasitemia / parasitology
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmodium chabaudi / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Indoles
  • Chloroquine
  • violacein