title: Experimental therapeutic studies of Solanum aculeastrum Dunal. on Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Solanum acueastrum Dunal. has been shown to have some chemotherapeutic value. Leaf and berry water and methanol compounds of S. acueastrum were evaluated for possible antileishmanial activity In vivo on BALB/c mice and in vitro against Leishmania major promastigotes, amastigotes and vero cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dry S. aculeastrum berry and leaf material were extracted in methanol and water. L. major parasites were exposed to different concentrations of S. aculeastrum fruit and leaf compounds and the IC50 on the promastigotes, percentage of infection rate of macrophages by amastigotes and the toxicological effect on vero cells were determined. BALB/c mice were infected subcutaneously with 1×10(6) promastigotes and kept for four weeks to allow for disease establishment. Infected mice were treated with fruit and leaf methanolic and water compounds, amphotericin B (AmB), and sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fruit methanol compound was most effective in inhibiting the growth of promastigotes with IC5078.62 μg/ml. Fruit water compound showed the best activity in inhibiting infection of macrophages by amastigotes. Fruit methanol compound was more toxic at Ld50=8.06 mg/ml to vero cells than amphotericin B. Analysis of variance computation indicated statistically significant difference in lesion sizes between experimental and control mice groups (P=0.0001). Splenic impression smears ANOVA indicated a highly significant difference in parasitic numbers between the experimental and the control groups (P=0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that compounds from S. aculeastrum have potential anti-leishmanial activities and the medicinal use of the plant poses considerable toxicity against dividing vero cells.
authors: Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Linet T
authors: LT
authors: Laban
authors: Kenya Medical Research Institute, 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Christopher O
authors: CO
authors: Anjili
authors: Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Joshua M
authors: JM
authors: Mutiso
authors: Kenya Medical Research Institute, 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Johnstone
authors: J
authors: Ingonga
authors: Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Samuel G
authors: SG
authors: Kiige
authors: Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Mgala M
authors: MM
authors: Ngedzo
authors: Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors: Michael M
authors: MM
authors: Gicheru
keywords: Amastigotes; Antileishmanial agent; BALB/c mice; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania major; Parasite numbers; Solanum acueastrum Dunal