Efficacy of crude methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. against Leishmania major
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Date
2014-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants
Abstract
Leishmania major is a protozoan parasite responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in humans. CL is transmitted via a bite by infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Research on herbal therapy for leishmaniases is increasing globally because conventional drugs are costly, toxic and require a prolonged administration. In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of dried Allium sativum (garlic) and Moringa stenopetala methanolic extracts against L. major were studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methanolic extracts of A. sativum (A) and M. stenopetala(M) against L. major were 3 and 5 mg/ml and IC50 of 863.12 and 1752.92 μg/ml respectively. The blend AM (1:1) hadIC50 of 372.1μg/ml and promastigotes’ viability of 71.03% compared to IC50 of 0.26 and 0.82μg/ml and promastigotes’viability of 18.41% and 12.22% for Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B respectively. Multiplication indices (MIs) of L. major amastigotes ranged from 43.67% to 45.93% after treatment with extracts A or M or blend AM at 125μg/ml and were significantly different (P < 0.05) from Liposomal amphotericin B at 12.5μg/ml. Oral extract A reduced significantly (P > 0.05) L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice while oral extract M did not. Blend AM (ip) reduced the lesion sizes and its efficacy was close to Pentostam and Liposomal amphotericin B. Oral extract A had a high parasite reduction rate of 60.70% and average LDU of 0.22±0.15 compared to Pentostam at 66.40% and LDU of 0.18±0.08. In conclusion, methanolic extract of A. sativum showed anti-leishmanial activity both in vitro and in vivo and it decreased L. major caused foot pad lesions in BALB/c mice. Methanolic extracts of M. stenopetala (ip) reduced the amastigotes burden in spleens of BALB/c mice. A blend of garlic and moringa methanolic extracts (AM at 1:1) were active against L. major. The active ingredients in crude methanolic extracts of garlic and moringa plants should be established and tested against L. major when blended.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
A. sativum, M. stenopetala, methanolic extracts, blend, antileishmanial, Leishmania major
Citation
KINUTHIA Geoffrey K., KABIRU Ephantus W., ANJILI Christopher O., KIGONDU Elizabeth M., NGURE Veronica N., INGONGA Johnstone M., GIKONYO Nicholas K. (2014): Efficacy of crude methanolic extracts of Allium sativum L. and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. against Leishmania major. Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants