In vitro activity of an essential oil against Leishmania donovani

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 1055 - 1058
• Main Authors: Monzote, L, García, M, Montalvo, A.M, Scull, R, Miranda, M, Abreu, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-11-2007; Wiley
• Subjects: amastigote; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chenopodium ambrosioides; Chenopodium ambrosioides - chemistry; General pharmacology; Leishmania donovani; Leishmania donovani - drug effects; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - parasitology; macrophage; Medical sciences; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; promastigote; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Pharmacognosy; Leishmania donovani; Chenopodium ambrosioides; amastigote; In vitro; Biological activity; Chenopodiaceae; Medicinal plant; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Essential oil; Macrophage; Promastigote
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2210

The in vitro antileishmanial effect of the essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides against Leishmania donovani was investigated. The product showed significant activity against promastigotes and amastigotes, with a 50% effective concentration of 4.45 and 5.1 μg/mL, respectively. The essential oil caused an irreversible inhibition of the growth of promastigotes after a treatment with 100 or 10 μg/mL for 1 or 24 h, respectively. The phagocytic activity of the macrophages was preserved at a concentration toxic to the parasite. The essential oil from C. ambrosioides may be a potential candidate drug to development a new agent to combat this parasitic disease. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.