ABSTRACT
Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in certain areas of Iran. The use of pentavalent antimony compounds as first line treatment has been reported, however they are associated with limitations and adverse events. Hence, an attempt to find a new, effective compound has been under consideration. This study examines the effect of Achillea biebersteinii afan as, a native plant in Iran, against Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote growth under in vitro conditions
Methods: This experimental study was performed at Tarbiat Modares University in 1392.We extracted the essential oil of the Achillea biebersteinii afan plant by steam distillation and analyzed it by gas chromatography mass spectrograph. Then, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations [10%, 15%, 25% and 50%] of the oil on the growth of the promastigotes stage of Leishmania and infected macrophages that contained amastigotes under in vitro conditions. Effectiveness of the oil on promastigotes and amastigotes was assessed by direct count and the MTT assay. In all tests, each of the wells that contained culture media and parasites without drug were considered the control group. Data analyses were conducted with ANOVA
Result: The MTT results indicated significant differences among the number of parasites in the control and case groups treated with 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% of the oil within 24, 48 and 72 hours after culture. The concentration of 50% of the oil killed 66% of the macrophages that contained amastigotes after 72 hours
Conclusion: Achillea biebersteinii afan oil was effective in killing Leishmania major promastigotes and infected macrophages that contained amastigotes. We have proposed to study the extract in vivo for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions