Evaluation of antileishmanial activity of trans-aconitic acid.

TAA, an inhibitor of the enzyme aconitase, inhibits the growth of L. donovani promastigotes. Morphogenic transformation of the amastigote to the promastigote (table; see text) form in vitro was also inhibited by 2 mM TAA. TAA also reduced multiplication of the parasite in macrophage culture. In the hamster model of leishmania, TAA significantly reduced the parasitic burden of liver. In acute toxicity tests with BALB/c mice no deaths were recorded even at a dose level of 2 g/kg body wt/day.