The evaluation of Methanolic and aqueous extracts effect of Zizyphus spina-Christi against Leishmania major (MHOM/IR/75/ER) promastigotes using MTT assay

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease with high prevalence. Various medicines are used for treatment of Leishmaniasis but because of their side effects and drug resistance, the medical society seeks new effective compounds. The aim of this study was the evaluation of Zizyphus spina- Christi as source of new medicinal factor.
The methanolic extract was prepared by percolation method. Leishmania major promastigotes cultured at 25±2°C in stationary phase in RPMI-1640 medium complemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and antibiotic Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL). By using MTT assay, the biological activity of plant extracts was evaluated in comparison with Glucantime against L.major promastigotes and IC50 values (50% inhibitory concentrations) were also studied. All tests were repeated for three times.
Zizyphus spina- Christi extracts and glucantime inhibited the growth of promastigote forms of L.major in vitro after 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. IC50 of glucantime was 21.96μg/ml, and IC50 values for methanol and the aqueous extracts of Zizyphus spina- Christi were 60 μg/ml and 80 μg/ml, respectively. All plant extracts had profound effects on promastigotes of L.major.
As regards, methanol and aqueous extract of Zizyphus spina-Christi have anti-leishmanial effects in vitro, further works are required to appraise the exact effect of these extracts on Leishmania agents in animal models.