title: Antileishmanial Activities of Greek Juniper (Juniperus excelsa M.Bieb.) Against Leishmania major Promastigotes.
abstract: Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions of Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa M.Bieb. from the family Cupressaceae) were evaluated for antileishmanial activities against Leishmania major promastigotes compared to meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime). In vitro toxicity assay was performed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and microplate ELISA reader. Extracts were prepared in ethanol/dimethyl sulfoxide (80/20) at 10 to 0.62 mg/mL. The standard was prepared in phosphate-buffered saline at 500 to 15.62 mg/mL. Both leaf and fruit extracts and related fractions showed strong inhibitory effects against promastigotes, significantly different from that of the standard. The leaf extract and the respective petroleum ether fraction showed maximum effectiveness compared to other fractions and also fruit extract and fractions (IC90= 1.89 ± 0.03 and 0.90 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively). Regarding the potent activities of nonpolar fractions of Greek juniper leaf extract, these fractions can be suggested for further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Processing Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.|Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoodreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moein
authors.affiliation: Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research center, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hatam
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Processing Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taghavi-Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Processing Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran zarm@sums.ac.ir.|Department of Phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zarshenas
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D018653:Juniperus; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate
keywords: Juniperus excelsa; Leishmania major; antileishmanial activity