Direct and Indirect Inhibition Effects of Resveratrol against Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites In Vitro

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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread obligatory parasitic protozoa which infect nearly all the warm-blooded animals, leading to toxoplasmosis. Current administration of the therapeutic drugs like the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine shows high rates of toxic side effects and encounters drug resistance in some cases. Resveratrol is a natural plant extracts with multiple functions, such as anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and anti-parasite activities. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of resveratrol upon the tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain extracellularly and intracellularly. We demonstrated that resveratrol possessed a direct anti-toxoplasma activity by reducing the population of extracellularly grown tachyzoites, probably through disturbing the redox homeostasis of the parasites. Moreover, resveratrol was also able to release the burden of cellular stress, promote the apoptosis and maintain the autophagic status of macrophages that were turned out to be regulated by intracellular parasites, thereby functioning indirectly in eliminating T. gondii. In conclusion, resveratrol has both direct and indirect anti-toxoplasma effects against the RH tachyzoites and may possess a potential to be further evaluated and employed in toxoplasmosis treatment.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81672048)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81186307)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31572240)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31872959)

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