In Vitro Evaluation of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Capparis spinosa, Ricinus communis, and Solanum luteum on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) Promastigotes

Abstract

Background: Plant extracts or compounds derived from plants are a valuable source for finding new anti-leishmaniasis drugs. Objective: In this study, Capparis spinosa, Ricinus communis, and Solanum luteum were used as lethal agents for the promastigotes of Leishmania major parasites in the culture medium. Methods: Diluted extracts of 12.5, 100, and 500 mg/mL were prepared from medicinal plant dried extracts. Glucantime at a concentration of 500 mg/mL was used as a positive control. Results: For all three extracts, concentrations of 100 and 500 mg/mL could kill promastigotes at higher rates and speeds compared to other concentrations. The high concentrations of extracts (500 mg/mL) presented similar effects. According to the findings, hydroalcoholic extract of C. spinosa presented considerably lower antiparasitic effects, and S. luteum and R. communis extracts could kill most of the parasitic promastigotes at higher doses. The ANOVA test did not show any significant viability percentage difference of Leishmania extracts between different extract types. Conclusions: In this study, the lethal effects of R. communis and S. luteum hydroalcoholic extracts on L. major promastigotes were found to be stronger than the C. spinosa L. extract.