[Anti-leishmaniasis activity of some extracts isolated from Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae)].
Nigella damascena L. (Ranunculaceae) originates from Magreb's countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt) and from the Middle Orient (Syria). In these countries the seeds are venerated by all the Muslim people and thus they are quoted in the Koran for their therapeutic effects.


METHODS
We evaluated the effects of different extracts isolated from Nigellae damascenae semen and Nigellae damascenae herba on three types of cells: THP1 cells (human monocytes which were used for evaluating the toxicity of the extracts) and two different forms of Leishmania infatum: promastigote cells and amastigote cells.


RESULTS
Dichlormethanic extracts isolated from Nigellae damascenae semen and Nigellae damascenae herba were active on Leishmania promastigotes.


CONCLUSIONS
Dichlormethanic extracts could be an alternative to the therapy based on pentamidine and amphotericin B.
Toma
Claudia-Crina
CC
Disciplina de Farmacognozie, Facultatea de Farmacie, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "V. Babeş", Timişoara.
Ollivier
Evelyne
E
Delmas
Florence
F
DiGiorgio
Caroline
C
Balansard
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035263:Flowering Tops; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031861:Nigella damascena / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D029626:Ranunculaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts