title: In vitroantileishmanial and antimalarial activity of selected plants of Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nepal is very rich in biodiversity, and no extensive effort has yet been carried out to screen plants that are used by traditional healers against parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate thein vitroantileishmanial and antimalarial activity of crude methanolic or ethanolic extracts of 29 plant species that are currently used by local people of Nepal for treating different ailments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crude extracts of leaves, twigs, aerial parts, and/or roots of the selected plants were evaluated forin vitroinhibitory activity against intracellular amastigotes ofLeishmania infantumand against erythrocytic stages ofPlasmodium falciparum. To determine the selectivity index (SI), cytotoxicity was assessed on MRC-5 cells in parallel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three plant species, namelyPhragmites vallatoriaandAmpelocissus tomentosa, for which no antiprotozoal activity has previously been reported, andTerminalia chebularevealed antiprotozoal activity. The extract ofA. tomentosaexhibited moderate activity againstL. infantumwith an inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of 13.2 ± 4.3 µg/ml and SI >3, whileT. chebulaexhibited fairly good antiplasmodial activity with IC50values of 4.5 ± 2.4 µg/ml and SI values >5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In countries like Nepal, where the current health system is unable to combat the burden of endemic parasitic diseases, evaluation of local plants as a potential source of the drug can help in expanding the treatment options. The extent of untapped resources available in these countries provides an opportunity for future bioprospecting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Society for Biological Applications, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Bishnu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, National College, Tribhuvan University, Nayabazar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Lila Bahadur
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Magar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, National College, Tribhuvan University, Nayabazar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parajuli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorny
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maes
keywords: Crude plant extracts; Leishmania; Nepal; Plasmodium; in vitro