title: [Anti-leishmaniasis activity of some extracts isolated from Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae)].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Farmacognozie, Facultatea de Farmacie, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "V. Babeş", Timişoara.
authors.forename: Claudia-Crina
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DiGiorgio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balansard
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts