An Update on Natural Antileishmanial Treatment Options from Plants, Fungi and Algae

Abstract

Efficient drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis, which is classified as a neglected tropical disease, are sought for. This review covers potential drug candidates from natural plant, fungus and algae sources, which were described over the last six years. The identification of these natural antileishmanials often based on the knowledge of traditional medicines. Crucial insights into the activities of these natural remedies against Leishmania parasites and against infections caused by these parasites in laboratory animals or patients are provided and compared with selected former active examples published more than six years ago. In addition, immuno-modulatory natural antileishmanials and recent developments on combination therapies including natural products and approved antileishmanials are discussed. The described natural products revealed promising data warranting further efforts on the discovery and development of new antileishmanials based on patterns from nature.

Thymoquinone Induced Leishmanicidal Effect via Programmed Cell Death in Leishmania donovani

“… 26 − 28 Natural products may offer an inexhaustible source of chemical diversity with therapeutic potential. 6 Plant-derived natural products have been central to drug discoveries for both antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs. Switching to alternate therapies, particularly plant and other natural product-derived drugs, may advance the search for better, more cost-effective, and safe antileishmanial agents.…”

“… 5 Plants and their product are very important sources of various bioactive agents, which include a varied group of essential oils and related compounds. 6 Essential oils have well-known antifungal antibacterial and antiparasitic properties against many pathogenic microorganisms. 7 Natural products from plant origin comprise a promising source of new antileishmanial drugs.…”

“…Owing to the present drug toxicity, high cost, and the emergence of new drug-resistant strains, an urgent need for a cheap, safe, and effective novel therapeutic agent is imperative . Plants and their product are very important sources of various bioactive agents, which include a varied group of essential oils and related compounds . Essential oils have well-known antifungal antibacterial and antiparasitic properties against many pathogenic microorganisms .…”

Antiprotozoal Activity of Thymoquinone (2-Isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) for the Treatment of Leishmania major-Induced Leishmaniasis: In Silico and In Vitro Studies

“…In addition, the present results show that promastigotes are more sensitive to TQ than amastigotes, which is consistent with many of our previous findings. This is because amastigotes are intracellular parasites that find protection inside the cells and have little exposure to the drugs, unlike the motile promastigotes, which are directly exposed to the drugs [ 25 ].…”

Stellaria media Linn.: A comprehensive review highlights the nutritional, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities

“…Aerial part extracts of the chickweed and their fractions exhibited anti-leishmanial activity by using Leishmania tropica that has been isolated from the patient in Peshawar (Pakistan). The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent at half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value of methanol extract, n-hexane fraction, chloroform fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction, and water fraction (185.9 µg/mL, 170.4 µg/mL, 155.5 µg/mL, 36.4 µg/mL, 49.5 µg/mL, and 184.8 µg/mL, respectively) (95,96).…”