Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 15 2 2020 06 07 223 232 Oscar A REBOREDA-HERNANDEZ Pathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexi-co City, Mexico Adriana L JUAREZ-SERRANO Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico Ivan GARCIA-LUNA Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico Nora L RIVERO-RAMIREZ Pathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexi-co City, Mexico Rocio ORTIZ-BUTRON Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico Benjamín NOGUEDA-TORRES Helminthology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico Nayeli GONZALEZ-RODRIGUEZ Pathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences National School, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexi-co City, Mexico 2020 06 08 Background: There are only two anti-trypanocidal drugs available, both have a lot of side effects. This is the pioneer study designed to evaluate the Arthrospira maxima effect in Trypanosoma cruzi -infected mice and macrophages. Methods: A. maxima was administered in vivo, and in vitro (120µL/mL; 200 µL/mL; 500 µL/mL; 852 µL/mL) as prophylaxis, and treatment. In vitro, phagocytosis and viability were measured in macrophages cultures supplemented with A. maxima, and T. cruzi-infected. In vivo A. maxima was supplemented to T. cruzi-infected mice in order to obtain the parasitemia curves, parasite amount, and histopathologic changes. This assay was performed in Biological Sciences National School of National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, in 2019. Results: In vivo, A. maxima administration exacerbates the immune innate host´s response, followed by mice early death. In vitro, A. maxima supplementation promote T. cruzi- macrophage phagocytosis, but also a sooner T. cruzi- infected macrophage death. Conclusion: A. maxima administration overactive the immune system, decreasing the parasitemia, but causing a severe tissue damage. Then, this nutraceutical has a paradoxical effect on intracellular parasitic infections such as Chagas disease. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/2943 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/2943/1034