Antileishmanial activity and modification of hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in golden hamster by 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole following infection with Leishmania donovani.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) inhibited the growth of Leishmania donovani promastigotes (strain AG83) in vitro. The inhibition was dose dependent: the concentration of BHA required for 50% inhibition of the rate of growth was 1 microgram/mL. BHA also prevented growth of L. donovani in vivo in golden hamsters infected with L. donovani. In addition, the effect of BHA on several enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics both in uninfected animals and animals infected with L. donovani is reported.