title: Natural product based leads to fight against leishmaniasis.
abstract: The growing incidence of parasitic resistance against generic pentavalent antimonials, specifically for visceral disease in Indian subcontinent, is a serious issue in Leishmania control. Notwithstanding the two treatment alternatives, that is amphotericin B and miltefosine are being effectively used but their high cost and therapeutic complications limit their use in endemic areas. In the absence of a vaccine candidate, identification, and characterization of novel drugs and targets is a major requirement of leishmanial research. This review describes current drug regimens, putative drug targets, numerous natural products that have shown promising antileishmanial activity alongwith some key issues and strategies for future research to control leishmaniasis worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
authors.forename: Bhuwan B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajpai
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India. Electronic address: rakesh_bc@bhu.ac.in.
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India. Electronic address: tiwari_chem@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products
keywords: Alkaloids; Drug targets; Leishmaniasis; MDR; Natural compounds