Treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis with 5% Garlic cream: A randomized, double-blind study

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoan disease of the skin caused by a wide range of italic species. The disease is endemic in many countries. It has been recognized as a major public health problem in Iran. Many treatments have been suggested for it but none of them was fully effective.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a 5% garlic cream with placebo in CL.

A double blind, placebo controlled study was performed in Isfahan and Jahrom in 1997 and 1998. 197 patients were randomly selected. Exclusion criteria were: pregnancy, lactation, age less than 5 years and duration of disease more than 100 days. Each patient received garlic cream 5% or placebo for 3 weeks and was followed for another period of 40 days.

The study was completed as planned in 171 patients. 96 were treated with garlic 5% cream and 75 with placebo. Complete healing occurred in 18 (18.75%) of garlic group in comparison with 15 (20%) of placebo group. The difference was not significant (P=0.9865).

5% garlic cream was not effective in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Further studies with higher concentrations or different vehicle are needed.