title: Therapeutic Effect ofScrophularia striataEthanolic Extract against Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused byLeishmania major(MRHO/IR/75/ER).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the effect of the ethanolic extract ofScrophularia striataon the Iranian strain ofLeishmania major(MRHO/IR/75/ER) both in vitro and in vivo conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effective dose (ED) of ethanolic extract ofS. striatawere determined using MTT assay on the growth of promastigote forms ofL. majorin axenic culture media. Then, the ED50ofS. striataon mice peritoneal macrophages was determined using calculation of amastigote forms on mice peritoneal macrophages. For in vivo experiments, the therapeutic effects of various concentrations ofS. striataon infected BALB/c mice was studied. A total of 75 infected mice were randomly divided into five groups: two groups (10% and 50% ofS. striata) as experimental and three as control (ethanol 50%, Glucantime® and no treatment). The efficacy were determined by comparing the diameters of lesions and the microscopically examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect ofS. striataextract (0/625%, 1/25%, 2/5%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%) on peritoneal macrophages of Balb/c mice infected withL.majorin tissue-culture slides was assessed.S. striataextract (10%) removed theL.majoramastigotes-infected macrophages significantly after 24 h (P< 0.05). The higher concentrations ofS. striataethanolic extract (20%, and 50%) had highly toxic effects on macrophages, resulted in the disintegration of the cytoplasm of macrophages after 48 and 72 h. In concentration 10% ofS. striata, more than 85% ofL. majoramastigotes-infected macrophages were damaged without cytotoxicity effects on macrophages. The higher concentrations had toxic effects on cultured macrophages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. striataethanolic extract 10% had anti leishmanial effects in both in vivo and in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahiri
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanavi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahebgharani
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abedin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saghafipour
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamileh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Homa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajjaran
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akhavan
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mahdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rezayat
keywords: Balb/c mice; In vitro; In vivo; Leishmania major; Scroplularia striata