Antileishmanial and cytotoxic effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis L

The therapeutic value of Myrtus communis L.: an updated review

Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is naturally found in the western part of Asia, Southern Europe, and North Africa. It has been reportedly applied in pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine, cosmetics, spices, and food. Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus were utilized to seek out relevant content concerning the therapeutic potential of M. communis. Subsequently, we conducted a review to identity noteworthy updates pertaining to M. communis. Myrtle berries, leaves, seeds, and essential oils are natural sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds with marked health effects. The chemical analysis showed that M. communis contained oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, saponosides, tannins, quinines, and anthraquinones. A pharmacological investigation revealed that M. communis possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, dermatological, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal protective effects, among numerous other biological effects. This current review focused on the biochemical, pharmacological, therapeutic effects, and various biological activities of different parts of M. communis. It signifies that M. communis is a therapeutic plant with numerous applications in medicine and could be used as a drug isolate based on its safety and effectiveness.

Synergistic antileishmanial activity of erythrodiol, uvaol, and oleanolic acid isolated from olive leaves of cv. Chemlali

This study aimed to assess the antileishmanial activity of biomolecules obtained from Olea europaea L. leaves and twigs recovered from eight Tunisian cultivars. The extraction was first carried out with 80% methanol, and then the obtained extract was fractionated using three solvents of increasing polarity: cyclohexane (CHX), dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc). The antileishmanial activity was determined against leishmanial strains responsible for cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The cyclohexane fraction of the leaves of cv. Chemlali from the region of Sidi-Bouzid exhibited the strongest leishmanicidal activity against all the tested leishmanial strains. The inhibition concentrations (IC50) were 16.5, 14.5, and 7.4 μg mL-1 for Leishmania mexicana (cutaneous), Leishmania braziliensis (mucocutaneous), and Leishmania donovani (visceral), respectively. Interestingly, low cytotoxicity was observed on THP-1 cells with selective indexes (SI) ranging from 22.8 to 50.5. HPLC-HRMS and full-house NMR analysis allowed the identification of three triterpenic compounds, oleanolic acid (IC50 = 64.1 μg mL-1), erythrodiol (IC50 = 52.0 µg mL-1), and uvaol (IC50 = 53.8 μg mL-1). Antileishmanial activity of uvaol and oleanolic acid has been previously reported. However, this work constitutes the first report of the antileishmanial activity of erythrodiol which showed combinatorial interaction with uvaol (IC50 = 26.1 μg mL-1) against Leishmania tropica. The mixture of the three compounds, as major ones, exhibited an enhanced activity against Leishmania tropica (IC50 = 16.3 µg mL-1) compared to erythrodiol alone or the combination of uvaol and erythrodiol. This finding is of great importance and needs further investigation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03825-3.

How to Naturally Support the Immune System in Inflammation-Essential Oils as Immune Boosters

Efficient functionality of the immune system is needed to fight against the development of infectious diseases, including, among others, serious recurrent chronic infections. Research has shown that many modern common diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and cardiovascular diseases, e.g., thromboembolism, cancer, obesity, or depression, are connected with inflammatory processes. Therefore, new, good stimulators of the immune system's response are sought. They include synthetic compounds as well as biological preparations such as lipopolysaccharides, enzymes, bacterial metabolites, and secondary metabolites of plants, demonstrating a multidirectional effect. Essential oils are characterized by many invaluable activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulating. Essential oils may stimulate the immune system via the utilization of their constituents, such as antibodies, cytokines, and dendritic cells. Some essential oils may stimulate the proliferation of immune-competent cells, including polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and B and T lymphocytes. This review is focused on the ability of essential oils to affect the immune system. It is also possible that essential oil components positively interact with recommended anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs. Thus, there is a need to explore possible synergies between essential oils and their active ingredients for medical use.

Leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory activities of the formononetin (a natural isoflavone) against Leishmania tropica

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to examine the leishmanicidal, cellular mechanisms and cytotoxicity effects of formononetin (FMN), a natural isoflavone, against Leishmania tropica. We used the MTT assay to determine the leishmanicidal effects of FMN against promastigotes and its cytotoxicity effects on J774-A1 macrophage cells. The Griess reaction assay and quantitative real-time PCR were used to determine the nitric oxide (NO) and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ and iNOS in infected J774-A1 macrophage cells.

RESULTS

FMN significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the viability and number of promastigotes and amastigotes forms. The 50% inhibitory concentrations value for FMN and glucantime was 9.3 and 14.3 µM for promastigote and amastigote, respectively. We found that the macrophages exposed with FMN especially at concentrations of 1/2 IC₅₀ and IC₅₀ significantly activated the NO release and the mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, iNOS. The findings of the current research showed the favorable antileishmanial effects formononetin, a natural isoflavone, against various stages of L. tropica through inhibition of infectivity rate of macrophage cells and triggering the NO production and cellular immunity. However, supplementary works are essential to evaluate the ability and safety of FMN in animal model before use in the clinical phase.

Essential Oils in the Treatment of Various Types of Acne-A Review

Acne is a chronic, common disease that poses a significant therapeutic, psychological and social problem. The etiopathogenesis of this disease is not fully understood. Drugs used in general and external therapy should have anti-seborrhoeic, anticomadogenic, bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Acne treatment is often associated with the long-term use of antibiotics, contributing to the global antibiotic resistance crisis. In order to solve this problem, attention has been paid to essential oils and their terpene components with potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Research shows that certain essential oils effectively reduce inflammatory acne lesions through mechanisms related to the sebaceous glands, colonization of Cutibacterium acnes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). An example is tea tree oil (TTO), a more commonly used topical agent for treating acne. TTO has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. The paper presents the latest scientific information on the activity and potential use of specific essential oils in treating acne. Evidence of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of several essential oils and their main components was presented, indicating the possibility of using them in the treatment of acne.

Chemical composition, antileishmanial, and cytotoxic effects Ferula macrecolea essential oil against Leishmania tropica

Background

The current study was aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, as well as antileishmanial and cytotoxic effects of the essential oil of Ferula macrecolea and its main compound, terpinolene, against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania tropica.

Methods

The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by a gas chromatograph connected to a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The MTT (3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) - 2.5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to study the effects of the essential oil and terpinolene against promastigotes while the macrophage model was used for evaluating the effect of F. macrecolea essential oil against amastigotes of L. tropica as well as assessing cytotoxicity. The Griess reaction assay was employed to study the nitric oxide (NO) produced by treating macrophage cells with the essential oil and terpinolene. Furthermore, the effect of the essential oil and terpinolene on plasma membrane permeability and inhibition of infection in macrophages was evaluated.

Results

The main compounds were terpinolene (77.72%), n-nonanal (4.47%), and linalool (4.35%), respectively. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of the essential oil, terpinolene, and glucantime against promastigotes were 27.6, 11.6, and 32.8 μg/mL, respectively; however, their IC₅₀ values against amastigotes were 42.3, 19.6, and 56.9 μg/mL, respectively. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations of the essential oil, terpinolene, and glucantime were 471.3, 207.3, and 1165.3 μg/mL, respectively. The production of NO in macrophage cells after treatment with the essential oil and terpinolene was increased in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001). The results revealed that by increasing the concentration of the essential oil and terpinolene, the permeability of the parasites' plasma membrane was significantly changed (p < 0.001). The pre-incubation of Leishmania parasites with F. macrecolea essential oil and terpinolene significantly declined the rate of cell infection by 74.8% and 79.4%, respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of the present study indicated that F. macrecolea essential oil, especially its main compound, i.e., terpinolene, has a potent antiparasitic effect on the promastigote and amastigote stages of L. tropica. Considering the advantages of medicinal plant products over their chemical counterparts, it is suggested that in the continuation of this study, the effect of F. macrecolea essential oil, especially terpinolene, on laboratory animals, and in case of high efficiency, in humans be evaluated.

Moroccan medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases: From ethnobotany to clinical trials

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Skin diseases are among the most common human health affections. A healthy skin promotes a healthy body that can be achieved through modern, allopathic and natural medicines. Therefore, medicinal plants can be a reliable therapy in treating skin diseases in humans through a diverse range of bioactive molecules they contain.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to provide for the first-time scientific evidence related to the dermatological properties of Morocco's medicinal plants and it aims to provide a baseline for the discovery of new drugs having activities against skin issues.

METHODS

This review involved an investigation with different search engines for Moroccan ethnobotanical surveys published between 1991 and 2021. The plants used to treat skin diseases have been determined. Information regarding pharmacological effects, phytochemical, and clinical trials related to the plants listed in this review was collected from different scientific databases like PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. The data were analyzed and summarized in the review.

RESULTS

A total of 401 plants belonging to 86 families mainly represented by Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Apiaceae which have been documented to be in common use by Moroccans for managing skin diseases. Among those plants recorded, the most commonly used are Allium cepa L, Chamaeleon gummifer (L.) Cass and Salvia rosmarinus Schleid. Mill. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part, while powder and decoction were the most common method of traditional drug preparation. 107 of the 401 plants (27%) have undergone pharmacological validation. A total of 44 compounds isolated from 27 plants were investigated to treat different types of skin diseases, and 25 plants have been clinically studied for their activities against skin diseases.

CONCLUSION

The beneficial effects of using Moroccan medicinal plants to treat skin diseases, according to traditional practices, have been proven in numerous scientific studies. Therefore, other studies should focus on isolating and identifying specific bioactive compounds from plant extracts, revealing more valuable therapeutic properties. Furthermore, additional reliable clinical trials are needed to confirm their beneficial effect on patients with skin diseases.

HAS 1: A natural product from soil-isolated Streptomyces species with potent activity against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most unrestrained diseases. The Syrian war and the significant displacement of refugees aggravated the spread of this ailment into several neighboring countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). In Syria, Leishmania tropica is identified as one of the most aggressive and endemic identified species, causing localized or generalized lesions, often chronic or relapsing. Pentavalent antimonial drugs are currently used as first line treatment against CL. Nonetheless, these drugs exhibit several limitations, including the repetitive painful injections, high cost, poor availability, and mainly systemic toxicity. Besides, the emergence of acquired parasitic resistance hinders their potency, stressing the need for new therapies to combat CL. Natural products (NPs) epitomize a valuable source in drug discovery. NPs are secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by plants, sponges, or a wide variety of organisms, including environmental microorganisms. The EMR is characterized by its immense biodiversity, yet it remains a relatively untapped area in drug discovery. NPs of the region were explored over the last 2 decades, but their discoveries lack biogeographical diversity and are limited to the Red Sea. Here, we isolated previously uncultured environmental soil-dwelling Streptomyces sp. HAS1, from Hasbaya region in southeast Lebanon. When fermented in one of our production media named INA, HAS1 produced a crude extract with significant potency against a clinical Leishmania tropica isolate. Using bio-guided fractionation, the bioactive compound was purified and the structure was elucidated by NMR and LC-HRMS. Our findings establish NPs as strong candidates for treating Leishmania tropica and further dwells on the importance of these natural sources to combat microbial infections.

Assessment of anthelmintic potentials of Myrtus communis against Haemonchus contortus and Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Anthelmintic resistance in grazing livestock systems has been spreading worldwide in prevalence and severity. Therefore, alternative measures including the use of herbal anthelmintic is considered as one of the successful approaches for the control of anthelmintic resistance. In the present report, we describe the chemical constituents of Myrtus communis essential oil, its in vitro anthelmintic effect against the most pathogenic gastrointestinal parasite of sheep; Haemonchus contortus and its in vivo anthelmintic potential using an in vivo gastrointestinal parasite model of rodents; i.e. Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Chromatographic analyzes of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the leaves of M. communis have shown that this oil was composed mainly of a α-pinene (33.59%), eucalyptol (23.85%) and limonene (14.70%). Regarding the in vitro anthelmintic potential, the ovicidal effect was confirmed in an egg hatch inhibition assay at IC₅₀ = 0.7 mg/mL and with 95.83% of immobility of adult worm's after 8 h of exposure to 2 mg/mL of M. communis EO. The anthelmintic capacity of M. communis EO was also confirmed by in vivo assays conducted against the murine parasite H. polygyrus. In fact, at 1200 mg/kg bw of M. communis EO, a reduction of 99.70% in faecal egg counts was observed after 7 days of oral treatment, together with a 71.12% reduction in total worm counts. Based on the obtained results, M. communis EO showed relevant in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic effects against gastro-intestinal parasites.

Botanic Garden as a Factory of Molecules: Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis as a Case Study

A novel perception of botanic gardens as complex “factories of molecules” (Lombardy Region Project–Lr. 25/2016, year 2021), that mediate plant–environment interactions, and are the basis of their utility for humans, is presented. The core-topic is the medicinal plant heritage of the Ghirardi Botanic Garden (Toscolano Maderno, Brescia, Italy) of the University of Milan. In this work, we studied Myrtus communis L. subsp. communis (Myrtaceae) at multiple scale levels: macro- and micromorphological, with special emphasis on the secretory structures responsible for the production of secondary metabolites; phytochemical, with the analysis of the essential oil (EO) composition from leaves (fresh, dried, stored at −20 °C and at −80 °C) and fruits over two consecutive years (2018 and 2019); bio-ecological, with a focus, based on literature data, on the ecology and biological activity of the main EO components. The occurrence of secretory cavities producing terpenes, along with flavonoids, was proven. A high level of chemical variability across the obtained EO profiles emerged, especially that concerning quantitative data. However, regardless of the different conservation procedures, the examined plant part, or the phenological stage, we detected the presence of three ubiquitous compounds: α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and linalool. The overall results will serve to enrich the Ghirardi Botanic Garden with novel labeling showing accurate and updated scientific information in an Open science perspective.

A Systematic Review of Curcumin and its Derivatives as Valuable Sources of Antileishmanial Agents

BACKGROUND

In recent years, antimonial agents and other synthetic antileishmanial drugs, such as amphotericin B, paromomycin, and many other drugs, have restrictions in use due to the toxicity risk, high cost, and emerging resistance to these drugs. The present study aimed to review the antileishmanial effects of curcumin, its derivatives, and other relevant pharmaceutical formulations on leishmaniasis.

METHODS

The present study was carried out according to the 06-preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline and registered in the CAMARADES-NC3Rs Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Facility (SyRF) database. Some English-language databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, EBSCO, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched for publications worldwide related to antileishmanial effects of curcumin, its derivatives, and other relevant pharmaceutical formulations, without date limitation, to identify all the published articles (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies). Keywords included "curcumin", "Curcuma longa", "antileishmanial", "Leishmania", "leishmaniasis", "cutaneous leishmaniasis", "visceral leishmaniasis", "in vitro", and "in vivo".

RESULTS

Out of 5492 papers, 29 papers including 20 in vitro (69.0%), 1 in vivo (3.4%), and 8 in vitro/in vivo (27.6%) studies conducted up to 2020, met the inclusion criteria for discussion in this systematic review. The most common species of the Leishmania parasite used in these studies were L. donovani (n = 13, 44.8%), L. major (n = 10, 34.5%), and L. amazonensis (n = 6, 20.7%), respectively. The most used derivatives in these studies were curcumin (n = 15, 33.3%) and curcuminoids (n = 5, 16.7%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In the present review, according to the studies in the literature, various forms of drugs based on curcumin and their derivatives exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity against different Leishmania spp. The results revealed that curcumin and its derivatives could be considered as an alternative and complementary source of valuable antileishmanial components against leishmaniasis, which had no significant toxicity. However, further studies are required to elucidate this concluding remark, especially in clinical settings.

A nanoemulsion-based nanogel of Citrus limon essential oil with leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the diseases that severely affects human skin. Nanogels are the well-known formulation for topical drug delivery due to easy usage, high loading capacity, and physical and chemical stabilities. In this study, the toxicity effect of three essential oils, including Mentha piperita, Anethum graveolens, and Citrus limon (CLEO), was evaluated against Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. Ingredients of CLEO as the most potent essential oil were identified using GC-MS analysis. The five major components were limonene (61.83%), sabinene (16.99%), trans-limonene oxide (3.08%), cis-limonene oxide (2.27%), and 1,2-cyclohexane diol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl) (1.50%). The nanogel of CLEO (CLNgel) was prepared by the addition of carbomer 940 (1% w/v) to the prepared nanoemulsion with a droplet size of 146 ± 12 nm. The viscosity of CLNgel was fitted with a regression of non-Newtonian materials, Carreau-Yasuda. Interestingly, CLNgel at a concentration of 80 µg/mL reduced the viability of both species to 0%. Therefore, the prepared prototype can/could/would be used as an excellent nanoformulation for in vivo studies.

Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Effects of Various Extracts of Capparis spinosa L

Objectives

Cutaneous leishmania sis (CL) is considered as one of the most critical infections worldwide, in which the protozoa of the genus Leishmania 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 Capparis spinosa L. on the in vitro model.

Materials and Methods

The primary phytochemical analysis of the C. spinosa extracts was performed to assess the presence of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and glycosides. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxic and antileishmanial effects of C. spinosa extracts on Leishmania tropica 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 C. spinosa 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 C. spinosa exhibit a high potency to inhibit the growth of L. tropica 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, C. spinosa extracts did not display a considerable cytotoxicity on the J774-A1 macrophage cells.

Conclusion

The obtained findings exhibited remarkable antileishmanial effects of C. spinosa extracts on L. tropica, thereby indicating the ability of C. spinosa 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.

Myrtus communis Essential Oil; Anti-Parasitic Effects and Induction of the Innate Immune System in Mice with Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Background: Myrtus communis (M. communis) is a wild aromatic plant used for traditional herbal medicine that can be demonstrated in insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity of its essential oils (MCEO). Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of M. communis essential oil (MCEO) against chronic toxoplasmosis induced by the Tehran strain of Toxoplasma gondii in mice. Methods: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was performed to determine the chemical composition of MCEO. Mice were then orally administrated with MCEO at the doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/day and also atovaquone 100 mg/kg for 21 days. On the 15th day, the mice were infected with the intraperitoneal inoculation of 20–25 tissue cysts from the Tehran strain of T. gondii. The mean numbers of brain tissue cysts and the mRNA levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ in mice of each tested group were measured. Results: By GC/MS, the major constituents were α-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%), respectively. The results demonstrated that the mean number of T. gondii tissue cysts in experimental groups Ex1 (p < 0.05), Ex2 (p < 0.001) and Ex3 (p < 0.001) was meaningfully reduced in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group (C2). The mean diameter of tissue cyst was significantly reduced in mice of the experimental groups Ex2 (p < 0.01) and Ex3 (p < 0.001). The results demonstrated that although the mRNA levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 were elevated in all mice of experimental groups, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed in tested groups of Ex2 and Ex3 when compared with control groups. Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated the potent prophylactic effects of MCEO especially in the doses 200 and 300 mg/kg in mice infected with T. gondii. Although the exceptional anti-Toxoplasma effects of MCEO and other possessions, such as improved innate immunity and low toxicity are positive topics, there is, however, a need for more proof from investigations in this field.

The potential role and apoptotic profile of three medicinal plant extracts on Leishmania tropica by MTT assay, macrophage model and flow cytometry analysis

Introduction

Treatment of leishmaniasis with conventional synthetic drugs is a major global challenge. This study was designed to explore the leishmanicidal activity and apoptotic profile of three leaf extracts on Leishmania tropica stages.

Methods

The plants of Quercus velutina, Calotropis procera and Nicotiana tabacum were gathered from Anbarabbad county, in the southeastern part of Kerman province and extracted by maceration method using methanol alcohol. Various concentrations of the extracts (1, 10, 100 and 1000 μg/mL) were used against L. tropica stages to evaluate the inhibitory effect by colorimetric assay, macrophage model and flow cytometry. The MTT assay was conducted to determine the IC₅₀ and CC₅₀ values in promastigotes and J774-A1 macrophages, respectively. For intra-macrophage amastigotes, the leishmanicidal activity was evaluated by calculating the mean number of amastigotes in each macrophage and also IC₅₀ values. The promastigote or amastigote stages with no drug and complete medium without organisms were considered as positive and negative controls, respectively. Meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) was also used as standard drug. Also, annexin V was used to assess the apoptotic profile. All treatment settings were incubated for a standard time of 72 h in triplicates. Data were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA.

Results

The findings showed that all plant extracts inhibited the proliferation rate of promastigotes and amastigotes (P ˂ 0.001); especially, Q. velutina represented the lowest IC₅₀ in both stages. Besides, Q. velutina showed the least number of amastigotes in each macrophage compared to the other groups (4.5 μg/mL). The percentage of parasitic apoptosis at 1000 μg/mL of Q. velutina, C. procera, N. tabacum and Glucantime® were 37.4, 18.6, 8.5 and 52.4, respectively. Amastigotes (clinical stage) were significantly more susceptible to extracts and also Glucantime® than promastigotes (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study revealed that all three extracts of Q. velutina, C. procera and N. tabacum exhibited an effective antileishmanial activity and induced apoptosis against the L. tropica promastigotes. Further investigations are essential to isolate and analyze the chemical compositions and their biological properties.

Active Essential Oils and Their Components in Use against Neglected Diseases and Arboviruses

The term neglected diseases refers to a group of infections caused by various classes of pathogens, including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, and helminths, most often affecting impoverished populations without adequate sanitation living in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals. The fact that these diseases were historically not considered priorities for pharmaceutical companies made the available treatments options obsolete, precarious, outdated, and in some cases nonexistent. The use of plants for medicinal, religious, and cosmetic purposes has a history dating back to the emergence of humanity. One of the principal fractions of chemical substances found in plants are essential oils (EOs). EOs consist of a mixture of volatile and hydrophobic secondary metabolites with marked odors, composed primarily of terpenes and phenylpropanoids. They have great commercial value and were widely used in traditional medicine, by phytotherapy practitioners, and in public health services for the treatment of several conditions, including neglected diseases. In addition to the recognized cytoprotective and antioxidative activities of many of these compounds, larvicidal, insecticidal, and antiparasitic activities have been associated with the induction of oxidative stress in parasites, increasing levels of nitric oxide in the infected host, reducing parasite resistance to reactive oxygen species, and increasing lipid peroxidation, ultimately leading to serious damage to cell membranes. The hydrophobicity of these compounds also allows them to cross the membranes of parasites as well as the blood-brain barrier, collaborating in combat at the second stage of several of these infections. Based on these considerations, the aim of this review was to present an update of the potential of EOs, their fractions, and their chemical constituents, against some neglected diseases, including American and African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and arboviruses, specially dengue.

Antioxidant Activity of Myrtus communis L. and Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab. Extracts: A Brief Review

Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) and Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab. (Saharan myrtle) have been used in folk medicine for alleviating some ailments. M. communis is largely distributed in the Mediterranean Basin, whereas M. nivellei is confined in specific zones of the central Saharan mountains. The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of berry and leaf extracts isolated from myrtle are deeply documented, whereas those isolated from Saharan myrtle extracts are less studied. In both species, the major groups of constituents include gallic acid derivatives, flavonols, flavonol derivatives, and hydroxybenzoic acids. In coloured berries, anthocyanins are also present. In M. nivellei extracts are reported for some compounds not described in M. communis so far: 2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole-β-d-glucopyranoside, 2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole 2-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside, rugosin A, and rugosin B. Berries and leaves extracts of both species had antioxidant activity. Comparative studies of the antioxidant activity between leaf and berry myrtle extracts revealed that leaf extracts are best antioxidants, which can be assigned to the galloyl derivatives, flavonols, and flavonols derivatives, although the ratio of these groups of compounds might also have an important role in the antioxidant activity. The anthocyanins present in myrtle berries seem to possess weak antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of sample extracts depended on various factors: harvesting time, storage, extraction solvent, extraction type, and plant part used, among other factors. Leaf extracts of myrtle revealed to possess anti-inflammatory activity in several models used. This property has been attributed either to the flavonoids and/or hydrolysable tannins, nevertheless nonprenylated acylphloroglucinols (e.g., myrtucommulone and semimyrtucommulone) have also revealed a remarkable role in that activity. The biological activities of myrtle extracts found so far may direct its use towards for stabilizing complex lipid systems, as prebiotic in food formulations, and as novel therapeutic for the management of inflammation.

Protective effect of standardized extract of Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) on experimentally bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis: biochemical and histopathological study

CONTEXT

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L) has been used widely in traditional medicine for different respiratory disorders. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an inflammatory disease characterized by progressive loss of lung function with poor prognosis. The pathogenesis of disease has not been completely elucidated, but probably persistent epithelial damages are involved.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of biochemical and histopathological effect of preventive and therapeutic doses of myrtle against bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in animal model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Methanolic extract of M. communis was prepared by maceration method. Total flavonoid content was determined and experimentally PF was induced in rat with intratracheal instillation of a single dose of BLM (5 mg/kg) only on day 0. Myrtle antifibrotic effect was evaluated as preventive (50 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, from day 0-13) and therapeutic agent (50 mg/kg, i.p., from day 14-27) in comparison with methyl prednisolone (M-pred) (4 mg/kg, i.p. for 14 days).

RESULTS

Parenchymal inflammation and fibrotic changes significantly were reduced by myrtle and M-pred. Significant decrease in hydroxyproline content and lipid peroxidation were observed in animals receiving myrtle extract while catalase activity was increased by myrtle. Improvement in inflammation and fibrosis was observed in myrtle group especially in the early phase of fibrosis (preventive regime).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Myrtle extract effectively inhibited the inflammation and fibrosis of lung parenchyma in both preventive and therapeutic methods. This effect might be due to the reduction of tissue inflammation and inhibition of oxidative stress. More studies are being carried out to find main mechanisms and separation of active compounds.

Development, physicochemical characterization, and antimicrobial evaluation of niosomal myrtle essential oil

Myrtus communis (myrtle) is well known for its therapeutic effects pertaining to the major secondary metabolites including essential oils (EOs). EOs are composed of volatile compounds and simply evaporate or decompose leading to their instability. Preparation of EOs niosomal formulation may be a promising approach to deal with these obstacles. Niosomal formulations of myrtle essential oil (nMEO) were provided using non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol (Chol). In the next steps, vesicle size, zeta potential, percentage of entrapment efficiency (EE%) and physical stability of nMEO were investigated. Finally, the effect of myrtle essential oil (MEO) and nMEO on microbial growth inhibition were assessed. Values for nMEO size and zeta potential ranged from 6.17 ± 0.32 to 7.24 ± 0.61 (μm) and -20.41 ± 0.17 to -31.75 ± 0.45 (mV), respectively. Higher degrees of EE% were obtained by F6 formulation (Span/Tween 60:Chol (50:50 molar ratio)). Moreover, niosomes have been reported to be stable at 4 °C during a three-month time period. It was revealed that nMEO F6 formulation inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, and Bacillus subtilis at concentrations lower than that of MEO. Overall, it was found that stable multilamellar vesicles were formed in the presence of 0.5% MEO and F6 formulation. This formulation also exhibited better antibacterial activity than MEO.

Leishmanicidal Activity of Biogenic Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles

Abstract: Due to the multiplicity of useful applications of metal oxide nanoparticles (ONPs) in medicine are growing exponentially, in this study, Fe₃O₄ (iron oxide) nanoparticles (IONPs) were biosynthesized using Rosemary to evaluate the leishmanicidal efficiency of green synthesized IONPs. This is the first report of the leishmanicidal efficiency of green synthesized IONPs against Leishmania major. The resulting biosynthesized IONPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The leishmanicidal activity of IONPS was studied via 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed the fabrication of the spherical shape of monodisperse IONPs with a size 4 ± 2 nm. The UV-visible spectrophotometer absorption peak was at 334 nm. The leishmanicidal activity of biogenic iron oxide nanoparticles against Leishmania major (promastigote) was also studied. The IC₅₀ of IONPs was 350 µg/mL. In this report, IONPs were synthesized via a green method. IONPs are mainly spherical and homogeneous, with an average size of about 4 nm, and were synthesized here using an eco-friendly, simple, and inexpensive method.

In vitro Protoscolicidal Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Essential Oil and Its Toxicity in Mice

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the scolicidal effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil against the protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and its toxicity in the mice model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analyses were used to identify the constituents of essential oil. Protoscoleces were treated with different concentrations of the essential oil (6.25-100 µL/mL) in each test tube for 5-30 min. The viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). Forty-eight male NMRI mice were also used to determine the toxicity of C. zeylanicum essential oil (0.5-4 mL/kg).

RESULTS

The main components were found to be cinnamaldehyde (91.8%), ρ metoxicinamate (1.57%), and α pinene (1.25%). Findings indicate that C. zeylanicum essential oil with the concentrations of 100 and 50 µL/mL killed 100% of protoscoleces after 5 min of exposure. Also, the lower concentrations of C. zeylanicum essential oil motivated a late protoscolicidal effect. The LD50 value of intraperitoneal injection of C. zeylanicum essential oil was 2.07 mL/kg body weight after 48 h, and the maximum nonfatal dose was 1.52 mL/kg body weight. The results also showed that there was no significant toxicity following oral administration of C. zeylanicum essential oil for 2 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The results exhibited the favorable scolicidal activity of C. zeylanicum, which could be applied as a natural scolicidal agent in hydatid cyst surgery.

SUMMARY

We evaluated the efficacy of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil against hydatid cyst protoscolecesThe viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining)Forty-eight male NMRI mice were also used to determine the toxicity of C. zeylanicum essential oilC. zeylanicum with potent scolicidal activity could be applied as a natural scolicidal agent in surgery. Abbreviations used: GC/MS: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis; CE: Cystic echinococcosis; LD50: Lethal dose 50%; I.p: Intraperitoneally.

Ethnobotanical, Ethnopharmacological, and Phytochemical Studies of Myrtus communis Linn: A Popular Herb in Unani System of Medicine

Myrtus communis L (Myrtaceae) is one of the popular drugs being used in the Unani system of phytomedicine since ancient Greece period. From time immemorial, different parts of this plant and essential oil have been used for a variety of purposes such as cosmetics (hair fall control), flavoring of food and drinks as well as extensive therapeutic purposes. Ethnobotanical information revealed that M communis L has been a folkloric repute for the treatment of several diseases like gastric ulcer, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, rheumatism, hemorrhage, deep sinuses, leucorrhoea, hemorrhoid, inflammation, dyspepsia, anxiety, insomnia, diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary disorders, and skin diseases. Moreover, ethnopharmacological studies revealed that the plant is endowed with extensive pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, vasodilator, antiulcer, antioxidant, anticancer, anxiolytic, sedative-hypnotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. The plant has been known to contain phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenes. The myrtle oil was also found to be rich in a variety of bioactive monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes with their derivatives. Most of these studies validate the aforementioned traditional claims of this medicinal plant. Further studies are needed to unravel other pharmacological activities of this plant in the long run.

Medicinal plants with promising antileishmanial activity in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate medicinal plants with anti-Leishmania activity which used in Iran.

METHODS

Data were systematically gathered from five English databases including Ebsco, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, four Persian databases including Magiran, Iran doc, Iran medex and the Scientific Information Database (SID) from 1999 to April 2015. Information obtained included plant family, extraction method, concentrations of extracts, animal models and parasite strains.

RESULTS

A total of 68 articles including 188 experiments (140 in vitro and 48 in vivo) between 1999 and 2015, met our eligibility criteria. Thoroughly, 98 types of plants were examined against three genera of Leishmania spp. For the heterogeneity study conducted, it was showed that there was a great deal of variation among studies. Based on random effect, meta-analysis pooled mean of IC50 was obtained 456.64 (95% CI: 396.15, 517.12).

CONCLUSION

The most Iranian plants used as anti-leishmanial activity were Artemisia species, Allium sativum, Achilleamille folium, Peganum harmala and Thymus vulgaris. The present systematic and meta-analysis review provide valuable information about natural products with anti-Leishmania activity, which would be examined in the future experimental and clinical trials and herbal combination therapy.

The Potential Use of Methotrexate in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: In Vitro Assays against Sensitive and Meglumine Antimoniate-resistant Strains of Leishmania tropica

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of methotrexate (MTX) alone and in combination with meglumine antimoniate (MA, Glucantime) against sensitive and MA-resistant Leishmania tropica stages in vitro.

METHODS

The present study was carried out in 2014 in Leishmaniasis Research Center at School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical sciences, Kerman, Iran. The effects of MTX alone and along with MA on promastigote and amastigote stages of sensitive (SS) and MA-resistant (RS) L. tropica strains have been evaluated using a colorimetric MTT assay and in a macrophage model, respectively. In addition, the inhibitory effect of MTX on the Leishmania invasion of murine macrophages was assessed in promastigotes of both strains of L. tropica. Sensitive and MA resistant L. tropica are referred to those isolates that are responsive or non-responsive to one or two courses of treatment by MA systemically and/or intralesionally, respectively.

RESULTS

The findings of OD and IC50 showed that MTX plus MA (SS: 16.1 μg/ml, RS: 39.8 μg/ml) had a higher anti-leishmanial effect than MA (SS: 52.2 μg/ml, RS: 170 μg/ml) or MTX alone (SS: 22.2 μg/ml, RS: 51.4 μg/ml) on promastigotes of both strains of L. tropica. The MTX plus MA caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the mean infection rate (MIR) and the mean number of amastigotes in each macrophage compared with positive control. Infectivity of promastigotes is significantly (P<0.05) reduced when it was preincubated with MTX.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated high potency and a synergistic effect of MTX on MA in inhibiting the growth rateof promastigote and amastigote stages of sensitive and meglumine antimoniate-resistant L. tropica. Further works are needed to evaluate the anti-leishmanial effects of MTX on L. tropica using a clinical setting.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants in Albaha Region, Saudi Arabia

Background:

Local natural medicinal resource knowledge is important to define and elaborate usage of herbs, in systematic and organized manner. Until recently, there has been little scientifically written document regarding the traditional uses of medicinal plants in Al Bahah region.

Objective:

This pilot study aims to collect the ethnobotanical information from native populations regarding the benefits of medicinal plants of Al Bahah region, and determine if the traditional usage is scientifically established (proved) from literature.

Materials and Methods:

The survey collected data for 39 plant species recorded by informants for their medicinal benefits. The recorded species were distributed among 28 plant families. Leguminosae and Euphorbiaceae were represented each by 3 species, followed by Asteraceae (2 species), Lamiaceae (2 species), Apocynaceae (2 species), and Solanaceae (2 species). All the medicinal plants were reported in their local names. Analysis of ethnopharmacological data was done to obtain percentage of plant families, species, parts of plants used, mode of administration, and preparation types.

Results:

Total 43 informants were interviewed, maximum number of species were used to cure skin diseases including burns (3), wounds (7), warts (1), Leishmania (7), topical hemostatic (2), followed by gastrointestinal system, rheumatism, respiratory tract problems, diabetes mellitus, anti-snake venom, malaria, and eye inflammation.

Conclusions:

The study covered Al Bahah city and its outskirts. Ten new ethnobotanical uses were recorded such as antirheumatic and anti-vitiligo uses for Clematis hirsute, leishmaniasis use of Commiphora gileadensis, antigout of Juniperus procera, removing warts for Ficus palmata.

SUMMARY

39 plant species from 28 plant families are used for treating more than 20 types of diseases.

Maximum number of species (23 species) was used for treating skin diseases (42.6%) including leishmaniasis, wound healing, dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo and warts.

Ten ethnobotanical uses of 8 studied plants have not been previously reported.

The most used medicinal plants, according to their Use Index (UI) were Juniperus procera, Rumex nervosus, and Ziziphus spina-christi.

Abbreviations Used: UI : Use Index, GI: Gastrointestinal tract, RD: Rheumatic disease, CVS: Cardiovascular diseases, UTI: Urinary tract infection, DM: Diabetes mellitus, RT: Respiratory infection, KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Efficacy and Safety of Bunium Persicum (Boiss) to Inactivate Protoscoleces during Hydatid Cyst Operations

BACKGROUND

Current scolicidal agents, which have been used for inactivation of protoscoleces during surgical procedures, are associated with adverse side effects including sclerosing cholangitis. This investigation aimed to evaluate the scolicidal effects of Bunium persicum (Boiss) essential oil against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and also its toxicity in a mice model.

METHODS

Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (3.125-50 mcL/mL) were used for 5-30 min. The viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using the eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). Further, 48 male NMRI mice were used to determine the acute and sub-acute toxicity of B. persicum essential oil.

RESULTS

The obtained results revealed that the B. persicum essential oil at the concentrations of 25 and 50 mcL/mL after 5 min of exposure killed 100% protoscoleces. The mean mortality rate of protoscoleces after 10 min of exposure to the concentration of 12.5 mcL/mL was 100%. Lower concentrations (6.25 and 3.125 mcL/mL) of B. persicum essential oil, however, indicated a delayed protoscolicidal effects. The LD₅₀ value of intra-peritoneal injection of the B. persicum essential oil was 1.96 mL/kg body wt. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the clinical chemistry and hematologic parameters after oral administrations of B. persicum essential oil at the doses 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 4 mL/kg for 14 d.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrated the potent scolicidal activity of B. persicum with no significant toxicity; it might be used as a natural scolicidal agent in hydatid cyst surgery.

Antileishmanial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Quercus infectoria Olivier extract

Currently, there is no effective vaccine available, and chemotherapy is the main approach for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). During recent decades, studies have demonstrated that a number of plant-derived compounds may act as new therapeutic tools against leishmaniasis. This study was evaluated the antileishmanial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Quercus infectoria Olivier (oak) extract. The total amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds was measured in oak extract. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was also performed to determine the amount of quercetin and gallic acid in this plant. This extract (0-80g/mL) was evaluated in vitro against promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) using MTT assay and in a macro-phage model, respectively. Then oak extract was tested on CL in infected male BALB/c mice with L. major in order to evaluate the antileishmanial activity topically. Moreover, cytotoxicity effects of oak in murine macrophage cells were tested by MTT assay. Antioxidative activity of oak was also determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1,1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging test. The amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the oak extract was 57.50 and 1.86%, respectively. The amount of quercetin and gallic acid in the oak extract was 0.0064 and 0.22%, respectively. The findings revealed that oak significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote of (IC50 12.65μg/mL) and amastigotes (IC50 10.31μg/mL) as a dose-dependent response. In the in vivo assay, after 4 weeks of treatment, 91.6, 66.66, and 50% recovery was observed in the infected mice treated with 20, 10, and 5mg/kg of oak extract, respectively. After treatment of the infected mice with the concentration of 10 and 20mg/kg of oak, the mean diameter of lesions, parasite load and mean number of parasites was significantly (P<0.05) reduced. Selectivity index of greater than 10 for oak revealed that oak extract had no cytotoxic effects on macrophage cells. Moreover, DPPH test demonstrated that radical inhibition occurred at greater power with increasing the concentration of oak. To conclude, the present study showed potent antileishmanial and antioxidant activity of oak extract; whereas this plant had no toxic effect on mammalian cells.

In vitro anti-leishmanial activity of Satureja hortensis and Artemisia dracunculus extracts on Leishmania major promastigotes

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the important skin diseases with diverse clinical manifestations. With an incidence of 0.7-1.3 million cases annually, this disease is often reported from six countries, including Iran. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-leishmanial effect of the three plant hydroalcoholic extracts including fleawort (Plantago psyllium L.), savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) on Leishmania major promastigotes. The hydroalcoholic extract from each plant was extracted and its anti-leishmanial effect was evaluated in different concentrations (100-1000 µg/ml) and at various hours (24, 48 and 72 h). Savory herb inhibitory concentration 50 % (IC₅₀) at 24, 48 and 72 h was 790.81, 398.11 and 298.42 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, tarragon herb IC₅₀ at 24, 48 and 72 h was 962.03, 688.36 and 585.51 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the fleawort extract was showed the lowest effect, considering that its effect at the concentration of 1000 µg/ml was 48 % after 72 h (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the statistical analysis showed a significant difference for interaction between concentration and time regarding the tarragon and savory extracts with a P value of lower than 0.05. According to the results, the anti-leishmanial effect of the tarragon and savory extracts may make it possible to use them in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis as a complementary or alternative therapy; however, further studies are necessary and should be evaluated in cell culture and in vivo conditions to confirm it.

Efficacy of Pistacia khinjuk Fruits on Viability of Hydatid Cyst Protoscoleces and Its Acute Toxicity in Mice Model

BACKGROUND

This investigation aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effects of Pistacia khinjuk methanolic extract against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and its acute toxicity in mice NMRI model.

METHODS

Protoscoleces were aseptically extracted from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (12.5-100 mg/mL) were used for 10 to 60 min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). Twenty-four male NMRI mice were used to assess the acute toxicity of P. khinjuk.

RESULTS

P. khinjuk extract at the concentrations of 100 mg/mL after 10 min of exposure killed 100% of protoscoleces. Similarly, the mean of mortality rate of protoscoleces after 20 min of exposure to the concentration of 50 mg/mL was 100%. The LD₅₀ of the intraperitoneal injection of the P. khinjuk methanolic extract was 2.8 g/kg and the maximum non-fatal dose was 1.7 g/kg.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated effective scolicidal effects of P. khinjuk extract with no considerable toxicity that might be a natural source for the producing of new scolicidal agent.

Chemical composition along with anti-leishmanial and cytotoxic activity of Zataria multiflora

CONTEXT

Natural products and their compounds are some of the most interesting sources of new drugs. Reviews have reported various pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial effects of Zataria multiflora Boiss (Lamiaceae).

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigates the chemical composition of Z. multiflora essential oil and evaluates its cytotoxic effects and anti-leishmanial activities against Leishmania tropica in an in vitro model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The components of Z. multiflora oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis. Anti-leishmanial effects of the essential oil (0-100 μL/mL) and methanol extract of Z. multiflora (0-100 μg/mL) on promastigote forms as well as their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 h. The leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms of L. tropica was evaluated at the concentrations of 0-50 μg/mL in a macrophage model for 48 h.

RESULTS

The chemical analyses demonstrated that the main components of essential oil were thymol (41.81%), carvacrol (28.85%), and p-cymene (8.36%). Regarding leishmanicidal activity, the IC50 values for the essential oil and methanol extract were 3.2 μL/mL and 9.8 μg/mL against promastigote forms and 8.3 μL/mL and 34.6 μg/mL against amastigote forms, respectively. Essential oil (CC50 89.3 μL/mL) indicated a higher cytotoxic effect than the methanol extract (CC50 591.6 μg/mL) of Z. multiflora.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed the chemical composition of Z. multiflora that might be a natural source of new anti-leishmanial agents in terms of use against cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antileishmanial Effects of Pistacia khinjuk against Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major

The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks (Anacardiaceae) alcoholic extract and to compare its efficacy with a reference drug, meglumine antimoniate (MA, Glucantime), against Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. This extract (0-100 µg/mL) was evaluated in vitro against promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of L. tropica (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and then tested on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in male BALB/c mice with L. major to reproduce the antileishmanial activity topically. In vitro, P. khinjuk extract significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote (IC50 58.6 ± 3.2 µg/mL) and intramacrophage amastigotes (37.3 ± 2.5 µg/mL) of L. tropica as a dose-dependent response. In the in vivo assay, after 30 days of treatment, 75% recovery was observed in the infected mice treated with 30% extract. After treatment of the subgroups with the concentration of 20 and 30% of P. khinjuk extract, mean diameter of lesions was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. To conclude, the present investigation demonstrated that P. vera extract had in vitro and in vivo effectiveness against L. major. Obtained findings also provide the scientific evidences that natural plants could be used in the traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of CL.