Effect of itraconazole and terbinafine on leishmania promastigotes

The antiproliferative effect induced in vitro by two antifungal compounds, the azole itraconazole and the allylamine terbinafine on Leishmania major, L. Donovani and L. Mexicana promastigotes was reported. Treatment of promastigotes cultures with itraconazole or with terbinafine induced growth arrest with L. major, but neither with L. Donovani nor with L. mexicana concentrations of 0.75 mul/l or more of itraconazole induced cell lysis after 72 hours with L major. However, even relatively large concentrations of terbinafine [2.0 mul/l] did not induce cell lysis. For L. major, the IC50 for itraconazole and terbinafine were 0.31 mul/l and 3.3 mul/l, respectively