Pilot evaluation of thymol-loaded chitosan gel as a complementary topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis

Abstract

Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic skin disease endemic in Iran, with limited effective treatments. Pentavalent antimony compounds like Glucantime have been the standard treatment for over 60 years, but their toxicity and variable efficacy highlight the need for alternative therapies. This study evaluated the efficacy of thymol-loaded chitosan gel as a complementary topical therapy to standard treatment for wound healing in cutaneous leishmaniasis.Methods: A chitosan gel containing 5 % and 10 % thymol was formulated and tested for its properties. Patients with confirmed lesions were randomly assigned to four groups, receiving Glucantime alongside either 2 % chitosan gel, or gels loaded with 5 % or 10 % Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation thymol. Wound healing progress was monitored using ImageJ software at days 14, 28, 45, and 60.Results: The chitosan-thymol gel showed no contamination, with thymol release plateauing after 6 h. All treatment groups showed significant improvement compared to the control (P < 0.05), with the 5 % thymol group exhibiting faster healing at multiple intervals (P < 0.01). No side effects were reported for 5 % thymol, while the 10 % group experienced mild burning.Conclusion: Thymol-loaded chitosan gel, particularly at 5 %, effectively accelerates wound healing in cutaneous leishmaniasis and is a promising complementary therapy.

Keywords

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Thymol
• Chitosan gel