Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial and cytotoxic activities of extracts of
different parts of
Lawsonia Inermis
,
Morus nigra
and
Ziziphus mauritiana
.
Methods: The methanol extracts of all three plant materials at concentrations of 10 - 100 μg/mL were
tested for their in vitro anti-leishmanial effects on
L. tropica
KWH23 promastigotes for 24 - 48 h, relative
to negative control and amphotericin-B (standard drug). For in vivo anti-leishmanial activity, the extracts
were tested against L. tropica-infected albino mice, while cytotoxicity was investigated against
mammalian cells (lymphocytes).
Results: For Lawsonia Inermis leaves, mean inhibition of extracellular promastigotes at 10, 25, 50 and
100 μg/mL after 48 h were 98.2 ± 0.06, 98.75 ± 1.09, 99.31 ± 0.00 and 100.00 ± 0.00 %, respectively.
After 8 weeks, mean lesion size decreased from 0.8 ± 0.2 mm to 0.3 ± 0.1 mm (p < 0.01), and cure at
150 mg/kg against intracellular amastigotes in albino mice was 97.02 % (95 % CI = 96.14 - 98.10). IC
50
for Lawsonia inermis leaf extract was 12.22 μg/mL (95 % CI = 11.54 - 13.84) against lymphocytes.
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study show that Lawsonia Inermis leaf is safe and possesses
potent anti-leishmanial activity.
