In vitro activity of arbutus unedo aqueous extract against leishmania infantum promastigote

Abstract

Considered as a major public health problem, leishmaniasis incidence continues to increase due to lack of vaccine. In addition, drugs routinely used for the treatment of this disease have associated side effects. This justifies a need to develop new drug treatments. It is in this perspective that our study is inscribed. In vitro antileishmanial activity of the aqueous extract of Arbutus unedo leaves was evaluated against promastigotes of L. infantum (MON-1/DZ/01/LIPA1227/01) by in vitro promastigote cell assay. The extract of the studied leaves showed remarkable antileishmanial in vitro activity (74% mortality at 100 µg/ml) against the promastigotes of Leishmania infantum, in a concentration dependent manner.