International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health

Aim: The current study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activity of Phyllanthus niruri against Leishmania donovani.

Methodology: The present study was designed to assess in vitro antileishmanial activity by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Whereas, the parasite load in liver smears was calculated in Leishman Donovan units. In addition, various immunological and biochemical changes induced by it in uninfected and Leishmania donovani infected BALB/c mice were investigated.

Results: The ethanol extract of this plant showed in vitro inhibitory activity with IC₅₀-59 µg/mL against the promastigotes of L. donovani strain MHOM/IN/80/Dd8. For in vivo studies, BALB/c mice were infected with the promastigotes of L. donovani. After 30 post infection days, they were treated orally with two doses of the ethanol extract of Phyllanthus niruri (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) for seven days. Animals were sacrificed on 1 and 15 post treatment days. The extract reduced the parasite load to a significant level and generated a protective immune response which was evident from the enhanced DTH responses, elevated levels of IgG2a and lower levels of IgG1. Moreover, the results of liver and kidney function tests indicated that the extract of P. niruri has no toxic effect on liver and kidneys.

Conclusion: Since the plant has been revealed to possess significant antileishmanial activity by modulating the immune response and exhibited no toxicity. Therefore, it should be further explored to isolate its active components and to check their efficacy on higher animal models for control of leishmaniasis.