Evaluation of Leishmanicidal Activity of Oxypeucedanin and Isoimperatorin on Leishmania major Promastigotes

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis has a wide range of clinical symptoms including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. Recently, advances have been observed in the field of using herbal medicines for the treatment of leishmaniasis. The study aimed to determine the in-vitro effect of two prenylated coumarins (oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin) of Prangos ferulaceae (L.) Lindl with positive and negative controls on Leishmania major. Methods: To have stationary phase of the growth curve, the parasites were cultured in NNN (Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle) and RPMI-1640 (Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640) medias in the incubator. Then a certain amount of culture, containing approximately one million parasites, were exposed to oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin and their effects were investigated after 3, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Findings: Non of the concentrations of oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin had leishmanicidal effect compared to the positive control (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin do not have leishmanicidal effect on Leishmania major promastigotes.

Keywords

• Leishmania major
• Coumarin
• Oxypeucedanin
• isoimperatorin
• Prangos ferulaceae (L.) Lindl