In vitro antileishmanial activity of nyctanthes Arbor-Tristis–A Medicinal Tree.

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants have been used as a source of remedies since ancient times in India. Traditional medicine systems consist of large numbers of plants with medicinal and pharmacological importance and hence represent an invaluable reservoir of new bioactive molecules. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis is one of the well known medicinal plants commonly known as night-flowering jasmine. Different parts of this plant are used in Indian systems of medicine for various pharmacological actions and has been used for its hepatoprotective, antiviral and antifungal qualities and used in the treatment of various diseases such as sciatica, chronic fever, rheumatism, and internal worm infections. In an attempt to develop new indigenous drugs against leishmaniasis, we have screened aqueous leaf extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and tested in vitro to assess its potential. The present study deals with the assessment of this plant to establish its antileishmanial activity and mode of action for a potent chemotherapeutic agent against Leishmania pathogen. Aqueous extracts showed 100% inhibition in growth at a concentration of 6mg/ml. However at a lower concentration of 0.9 – 1.8 mg/ml, promastigote growth was inhibited by 60-80% with a IC50 of 0.6mg/ml. The action of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis as a chemotherapeutic agent is found to be mediated through inhibition of superoxide dismutase and simultaneous release of toxic superoxide radical. We propose that Nyctanthes arbor-tristis may be considered as a prospective candidate to establish a better line of therapeutic process against visceral leishmaniasis. The results of this study contribute to the promotion of traditional medicine products and are preliminary for the isolation of new natural molecules for the treatment of leishmaniasis.