Peganum harmala Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts Effects on Lesions Caused by Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in BALB/c Mice

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is one of the six most common parasitic infections in the tropical regions. There are different therapeutic modalities, however therapeutic resistance is developed and resulted in numerous problems. Therefore, evaluation of other therapeutic modalities is performed extensively. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to compare the therapeutic response of cutaneous leishmaniasis with Glucantime and Peganum harmala extracts (aqueous and ethanol) in the animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The therapeutic response of Leishmania major to Glucantime and P. harmala extracts (aqueous and ethanol) in animal model was studied in BALB/c mice. These mice were divided into four groups according to receiving either one of these three agents, and the control group. The therapeutic response was evaluated according to the parasitic load before and after treatment and also with measuring the size of the lesions. RESULTS: The results showed that ethanol extract of P. harmala had good therapeutic efficacy in treatment of lesions in mice (P < 0.05), and the efficacy was significant in the eighth week after the treatment. There was also a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the parasitic load (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the current study results, it may be concluded that ethanol extract of P. harmala is efficient in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, and the efficiency is comparable with that of Glucantime.