Antifungal activity of ajoene on experimental murine paracoccidioidomycosis.

The natural compound ajoene (4,5,9- trithiadodeca-1,6,11-triene 9-oxide) is capable of controlling infection by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in experimental models. Swiss mice were inoculated with 5.0 x 10e6 cells of the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Pb18 by intraperitoneal route and treated with ajoene. In weeks 2, 6, 10 and 13 of treatment, levels of anti-Pb antibodies were measured by the ELISA test and the animals were put down and their lungs, livers and spleens removed for histopathological analysis and determination of the number of viable fungus. The results show that experimental murine paracoccidioidomycosis was well established and that ajoene was capable of controlling the evolution of the disease, as it significantly reduced the levels of antibodies from the 10th week of treatment.