In vitro antileishmanial activity of Mexican medicinal plants

Abstract

Aim of the studyTo evaluate the anti-leishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of aqueous and organic extracts of ten plants used in Mexican traditional medicine as anti-parasitics.Materials and methodsFor the organic extracts, plant material was macerated in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and dichloromethane/methanol (CH2Cl2/MeOH) (1:1) during two weeks; the aqueous extracts were prepared by infusion. The extracts were tested against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. The cytotoxicity was assayed in parallel on peritoneal macrophages of BALB/c mice.ResultsFour of the thirty extracts tested were active and selective against L. amazonensis promastigotes: Schinus molle (CH2Cl2 and CH2Cl2/MeOH), Lantana camara (CH2Cl2) and Prosopis laevigata (aqueous). These extracts had a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) against intracellular amastigotes under 50 μg/mL and a selectivity index (SI) higher than 5, which indicates that they constitute valuable candidates to obtain secondary metabolites with leishmanicidal activity.ConclusionsThe results derived from this study indicate that L. camara, P. laevigata, and S. molle might provide interesting new leads for the development of antileishmanial drugs.

Evaluation of the Antileishmanial Properties of Ixora brachiata Roxb on Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum by Colorimetric MTT Assay

“…They are safe, cheaper and partly available in endemic countries. [22][23][24][25] Therefore, the research on the antileishmanial effects of medicinal plants is urgently essential. In this study, the antileishmanial effects of the ethanolic extracts of Ixora brachiata root on L. major and L. infantum promastigotes were evaluated by MTT assay.…”

The Mechanism of Action of Ursolic Acid as a Potential Anti-Toxoplasmosis Agent, and Its Immunomodulatory Effects

“…Until recently, various compounds derived from plants have showed a leading role and ability as a source of specialized metabolites with medical effects as well as pharmacological activities. In addition, it was reported that various extracts/compounds derived from plants and synthetic compounds could be used in the medical field as useful resources for treating acute or chronic infectious diseases caused by schistosomiasis, leishmania, malaria, or tuberculosis, as well as viral diseases including middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) or Zika fever and avian influenza [16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23].…”

Chemical Constituents with Leishmanicidal Activity from a Pink-Yellow Cultivar of Lantana camara var. aculeata (L.) Collected in Central Mexico

“…The results derived from that evaluation showed that the dichloromethane extract prepared from the aerial parts of a pink-yellow cultivar of L. camara var. aculeata (L.) collected in central Mexico displayed significant activity against L. amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes [ 27 ].…”