Toxicological analysis and efficacy of 2-phenylchromone on mycobacteria viability and inflammatory response induced by Mycobacterium bovis

Abstract Background Studies have reported that compounds similar to flavone present antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; however these effects are poorly described in the context of mycobacterium infection. Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy of 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) on mycobacteria viability and inflammatory response induced by Mycobacterium bovis, as well as its toxicological potential in in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: In vitro antimycobacterial activity was performed using the resazurin microtiter assay method. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory action, C57Bl/6 mice were pretreated orally with 2-phenylchromone (1–100 mg/kg) 1 h before the pleurisy induction. The leukocyte migration and cytokine production were evaluated. Acute oral toxicity test, genotoxicity evaluations and splenic phagocytosis assay were also evaluated. Results The minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-phenylchromone in the presence of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was 28.90 µg/mL. In the BCG-induced pleurisy model, the oral treatment with 2-phenylchromone (1, 10, or 100 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in the pleural exudate, as well as in the total and differential leukocyte counts. The oral treatment with 2-phenylchromone also did not present acute toxicity or genotoxicity in comet assay and micronucleus tests. However, 2-phenylchromone induced an increase of 1.48-times in splenic phagocytosis in the animals. Conclusion Our results showed that 2-phenylchromone did not induced toxicity signs and is effective against Mycobacterium viability and reduced the inflammatory response elicited by mycobacteria.