Antileishmanial activity of a mixture ofTridax procumbensandAllium sativumin mice

Abstract

We tested a mixture of Tridax procumbens, known for its direct action against Leishmania mexicana, and Allium sativum, known for its immunomodulatory effect, as an alternative to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis. Acute oral toxicity was tested with the Up-and-Down Procedure (UDP) using a group of healthy mice administered with either T. procumbens or A. sativum extracts and compared with a control group. Liver injury and other parameters of toxicity were determined in mice at day 14. The in vivo assay was performed with mice infected with L. mexicana promastigotes and treated with either a mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum or each extract separately. The thickness of the mice’s footpads was measured weekly. After the 12-week period of infection, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture to determine the total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a immunoglobulins by a noncommercial indirect ELISA. We showed that the mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum extracts was better at controlling L. mexicana infection while not being toxic when tested in the acute oral toxicity assay in mice. An increase in the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 indicated a tendency to raise a Th1-type immune response in mice treated with the mixture. The mixture of T. procumbens and A. sativum extracts is a promising natural treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis and its healing effects make it a good candidate for a possible new phytomedicine.

A Review of Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Tridax Procumbens (L.)

“…Pardeshi and Bhiungade, 2016. In Guatemala, the entire plant is used for the treatment of protozoal infections (Caceres et al, 1998;Berger et al, 1998, Martí n-Quintal et al, 2009, Gamboa-Leon et al, 2014, Ebiloma et al, 2017, including malaria, leishmaniasis and dysentery. Aqueous extracts of T. procumbens have strong anti-plasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum parasites (Appiah-Opong et al, 2011); it has activity against Trypanosoma brucei, antibacterial and wound-healing properties (Koram et al, 2014, Agyare et al, 2016.…”

Natural Compounds and Extracts from Mexican Medicinal Plants with Anti-Leishmanial Activity: An Update

“…In addition, pure oxylipin (1) was active against the intracellular amastigotes of L. mexicana [43,44]. Gamboa-León et al [45] described that the methanol extract of the T. procumbens (complete plant) mixed with the lyophilized aqueous extract of Allium sativa (bulbs) significantly reduced skin lesions caused by L. mexicana promastigotes (Hd18-MHET/MX/97/Hd18) in female CD-1 mice treated during 2 weeks with this mixture. Individually, these extracts also reduced the formation of lesions in a lower percentage than the mixture.…”

Allium sativum

“…Treatment with the extract, daily for 28 days, led to a signifi cant reduction in footpad swelling in BALB/c mice; similar activity is noticed in the treatment with standard drugs. Studies showed that the mixture of Tridax procumbens and A. sativum extracts was more effective in controlling Leishmania mexicana infection while not being toxic when tested in the acute oral toxicity assay in mice (Gamboa-Leon et al 2014 ). An increase in the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 immunoglobulins indicated a tendency to raise a Th1-type immune response in mice treated with the mixture.…”