Infectivity of macrophages and the histopathology of cutaneous lesions, liver and spleen is attenuated by leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina in Leishmania major infected BALB/c mice.
Preliminary investigation of the in vitro and in vivo efficacies of different extracts from the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (VA), a plant widely used in Nigeria was evaluated in Balb/C mice infected with a laboratory strain of Leishmania major (L. major). The ability of the methanol, hexane and aqueous extracts of the plant to suppress the infection rate and its cytotoxicity on macrophages and L929 cells were determined in the in vitro study. The in vivo study evaluated time course of infection, lesion progression and the histopathology of cutaneous lesions, liver and spleen after inoculation with metacyclic promastigotes. Methanolic extract of VA containing high levels of flavanoids, was the most potent extract as it showed the highest suppression on infectivity and viability of intracellular amastigotes at a concentration lower than that which elicited cytotoxicity on macrophages. Treatment of infected mice with methanolic extract of VA showed delayed onset of disease with a significant reduction in lesion size and attenuation of the histopathological outcome characterised by intact epidermis and less tissue destruction in skin, spleen and liver. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that VA has potent antileishmanial properties which warrants further investigation into the immunological mechanism.
Department of Human Anatomy, Ahmadu Bello University.
Judith N
JN
Alawa
Katharine C
KC
Carter
Andrew J
AJ
Nok
Helen O
HO
Kwanashie
Sunday S
SS
Adebisi
Clement B I
CB
Alawa
Carol J
CJ
Clements
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018320:Leishmania major; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D035741:Vernonia / Q000737:chemistry
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts