The effect of topical aqueous and alcoholic extracts of opium against cutaneous leishmaniasis: in animal model (Balb/c).

Given that an effective vaccine is not available against leishmaniasis, as well as the side effects of current drugs and the emergence of resistance to treatment, researchers are looking for more effective, safe and low-cost natural compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-leishmaniasis effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of opium with concentration 10% on lesion of Leishmania major in BALB/c mice.

In this study, 30 male BALB/c mice, 6–8 weeks of age were injected subcutaneously in tail-base with Leishmania major amastigotes. They were randomly divided into five groups (n=6 per group). Two groups (aqueous and alcoholic extracts of opium with the concentration of 10%) as experimental and three as control (Eucerin ointment, Glucantime and Control, which were infected but not treated). Treatment started when the CL lesions were appeared and continued for 14 days. The diameter of the lesion was measured and the differences in the mean lesion size were assayed by paired t-test, two-way ANOVA and tukey post-hoc tests.

Statistical analysis showed significant difference (P<0.05) between treated groups in terms of wound diameters. The group treated with glucantime had the smallest wound diameter. The wound sizes of otherwise treated mice with alcoholic and aqueous extracts with concenteration 10% and eucerin ointment were smaller than those of control mice without any treatment with statistically significant (P<0.05).

The results of this study showed that despite of the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of opium on L. major in vivo, the mean wound size of mice infected with Leishmania major was less effective than glucantime. It is suggested that more studies be performed with the above extracts in different concentrations, along with nanocarriers and in combination with other plant extracts.