ABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iraq with high incidence among children below two years. Some recent reports indicated a immunopotentiation role of peganum harmala seed extract against some intra cellular pathogen. To investigate the immunostimulation effect of peganum harmala seeds extract before infection with leishmania donovani in BALB/C mice through various parameter's. BALB/C mice were divided into experimental groups with each group consisting of six animals. The experimental groups injected introperitoneally with 5xl0[6] promastigotes. Experimental groups were injected intraperitoneally by peganum harmala seed extract at doses of [125, 250, 500] micro g/20 gm b. wt. On day 5, 10 and successive six days before infection with L. donovani. These animal were sacrificed after [8] weeks. Total parasite burden in spleen, liver percent of infected cells, leishmanial index in peritoneal macrophage, number of macrophage forming formazan. Decrease in number of total parasite burden in liver and spleen in all mice groups treated with P. harmala seed extracts also, decrease in percent of infected cells, increase in leishmanial index in peritoneal macrophage, increase in macrophage forming formazan. Peganum harmala seeds extract was found to have anti leishmanial had anti leishmanial activity through killing of leishmania donovani amastigotes by activated macrophages