In this study we investigated the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, alone or combined with the pentavalent antimonial
glucantime on Leishmania amazonensis infection. In parallel, the effect of Brazilian red propolis gel (propain) alone or combined
with glucantime on L. amazonensis infection was evaluated. The inhibition of the infection in macrophages treated with glucantime in
combination with HBO exposition was greater than that of macrophages treated with glucantime alone or HBO alone. The susceptible
mouse strain BALB/c infected in the shaved rump with L. amazonensis treated with glucantime and exposed to HBO showed: time
points in the course of the disease in which lesions were smaller than those of mice treated with glucantime alone and revascularization
of the skin in the lesion site; interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were not elevated in lymph node cells from these animals. Propain alone
was not efficient against lesions, although less exudative lesions were observed in animals treated with propain alone or combined with
glucantime. These results reveal the potential value of HBO and red propolis in combination with glucantime for treating cutaneous
leishmaniasis and encourage further studies on the effect of more aggressive HBO, propolis and glucantime therapies on different
mouse models of leishmaniasis.
