Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Effects of Various Extracts of .

OBJECTIVES

Cutaneous leishmania sis (CL) is considered as one of the most critical infections worldwide, in which the protozoa of the genus infects a person. Today, the common and selective drugs for the treatment of CL are antimonial compounds present some limitations to their usage. The objective of this study is to investigate the cytotoxic and antileishmanial effects of various extracts of L. on the model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The primary phytochemical analysis of the extracts was performed to assess the presence of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and glycosides. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxic and antileishmanial effects of extracts on promastigote were evaluated. Additionally, these effects on the J774-A1 macrophage cells by colorimetric cell viability 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay were also assessed.

RESULTS

In this study, the findings of primary phytochemical screening of the extracts demonstrated the existence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, and alkaloids in this plant. Importantly, the findings indicated that the aqueous and methanolic extracts of exhibit a high potency to inhibit the growth of promastigotes with inhibitory concentration 50 values of aqueous and methanolic extracts being 28.5 and 44.6 μg/mL, respectively. Based on the obtained results, extracts did not display a considerable cytotoxicity on the J774-A1 macrophage cells.

CONCLUSION

The obtained findings exhibited remarkable antileishmanial effects of extracts on , thereby indicating the ability of as a herbal product to be developed as a new antileishmanial drug. Nevertheless, supplementary investigations will be obligatory to achieve these findings, especially in human subjects.