title: Therapeutic Effect of Hedera helix Alcoholic Extract Against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania major in Balb/c Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is common and endemic in many areas of Iran, caused by species of a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania. There is not any effective vaccine against leishmaniasis; so, therapy is important for prevention and separation of disease. Herbal extract for treatment of CL is cost-effective, applicable topically to lesions, and can avoid the development of drug resistance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo activity of an alcoholic extract of Hedera helix (a native Iranian plant) on the experimental ulcer of zoonotic CL in Balb/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  At least 5x l0(6) promastigotes of Leishmania major (MHOM/64/IR/ER75) were inoculated subcutaneously in the tail base of Balb/c mice. Fifty six infected mice were distributed in four groups, two groups (16 mice for 20% alcoholic extract of H. helix and 13 for 70% extract) were used as experimental groups, one (15 mice) as placebo control (Control A), and one (12 mice) as negative control. Treatment effects of two concentrations were determined by comparison of placebo and nontreated groups via measuring the size of skin lesions and the number of parasitologically positive and negative mice after the therapy period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed that the main lesion size did not decrease significantly, or the small lesions did not completely disappear after treatment by H. helix alcoholic extract. Amastigotes counts (mean ± SD) of the skin lesions decreased in control A and 20% concentration groups, but in negative control and 70% concentration groups the number of parasites did not reduce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study did not support the in vivo antileishmanial effect of H. helix extract. We recommend further studies using major components of H. helix, especially hederasaponin (saponin K10), to investigate the antileishmanial effect of this plant on L. major.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran ; Anatomical Science Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hooshyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Safarali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talari
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feyzi
keywords: Hedera; Leishmania; Plants; Therapeutics