title: [Antileishmanial activity of six extracts from marine organisms].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  infections caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a global health problem with a high prevalence in underdeveloped countries. There is no vaccine against this disease at present and the treatment used is poor, so the search for more effective and safe medicines is an urgent need.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to assess the in vitro antileishmanial activity of six aqueous and hydroalcohol extracts from marine organisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  the activity of six extracts against Leishmania amazonensis promastigots and amastigots as well as their toxicity against peritoneal macrophages in BALB/c mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  in the promastigot assay, the extracts from Bryothamnion Iriquetrum, Bunodosoma granulifera, Halimeda opuntia and Physalia physalis showed growth inhibition at concentrations lower than 100 microg/mL whereas in amastigots, these last two extracts were the most active and least toxic with a selectivity index of 6 and 8 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  taking these results into account, it was considered that the H. opuntia and P. physalis extracts showed a promising activity, so it is suggested that further studies on its in vivo activity be conducted.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri, La Habana, Cuba. marley@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Marley
authors: M
authors: García Parra
authors: C Lianet
authors: CL
authors: Monzote Fidalgo
authors: C Olga
authors: CO
authors: Castañeda Pasarón
authors: Neivys
authors: N
authors: García Delgado
authors: Aneysi
authors: A
authors: Pérez Hernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures