Abstract:
ntroduction: Clerodendrum myricoides and Salvadora persica have been reported in
management of leishmaniasis which is one of the neglected tropical diseases. The study aimed at
undertaking phytochemical analysis as well as investigating the in vitro antileishmanial activity of
Clerodendrum myricoides and Salvadora persica extracts on promastigote and amastigote forms
of Leishmania major.
Materials and Methods: Solvent extraction of the stem parts of the two plants was performed
using water, methanol, petroleum ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. Minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC), anti-amastigote and nitric oxide production assays were carried out to
demonstrate antileishmanial activity of these plant extracts against the two forms of Leishmania
major parasite species: promastigote and amastigote. Cytotoxicity assay was then conducted to
assess their safe use as herbal medicinal products.Results: Both plants showed presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, anthraquinones and
saponins. The Clerodendrum myricoides water extract demonstrated the best potential
antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major promastigotes (MIC=625 μg/ml). The
dichloromethane and petroleum ether extract were nontoxic to vero cells but showed moderate to
weak activity against Leishmania major promastigotes (MIC=1250 μg/ml; 2500 μg/ml) and
amastigotes respectively. The Salvadora persica ethyl acetate, successive methanol and
dichloromethane extracts recorded the most potential activity towards both Leishmania major
promastigotes and amastigotes.
Conclusions: All Salvadora persica and Clerodendrum myricoides extracts have potential
antileishmanial activity and may offer a cheaper alternative to the more expensive pentavalent
antimonials.
