ABSTRACT
Abstract In the present context of emergence of resistance aligned with the conventional anti-leishmanial drugs and occasional treatment failure compelled us to continue the search for replaceable therapeutic leads against Leishmaniainfection. Various ginger spices of the Zingiberaceae family are widely used as spices, flavouring agents, and medicines in Southeast Asia because of their unique flavour as well as due to their medicinal properties. Zerumbone, a natural component of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, has been studied for its pharmacological potential as antiulcer, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial. In this study, we have shown that zerumbone could induce ROS mediated apoptosis in Leishmania donovani promastigotes and also found effective in reducing intracellular amastigotes in infected-macrophages. We emphasized the potential of zerumbone to be employed in the development of new therapeutic drugs against L. donovaniinfection and provided the basis for future research on the application of transitional medicinal plants.
Subject(s)
Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Leishmania donovani/drug effects , Macrophages/microbiology , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology , Zingiberaceae/chemistry , Leishmania donovani/ultrastructure , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Parasitic Sensitivity Tests , Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Three human strains of Leishmania, one visceral and two cutaneous leishmaniasis, were prepared from both culture and tissue of infected animals and subjected to analysis by computerized image analyzer system. The results showed differences in the morphology and nucleic acid contents of the three strains