ANTILEISHMANIAL EFFICACY OF HERACLEUM PERSICUM DESF. EX. FISCH. EXTRACTS AGAINST LEISHMANIA TROPICA PROMASTIGOTES

Background: Heracleum persicum known as “suhotu” is widely distributed in Adana, Hakkari Van and used in the production of famous Van herb cheese. The antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antiepileptic, hepatoprotective, and antifungal properties were previously investigated on H. persicum extracts. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the in vitro antiLeishmanial potential of H. persicum extracts prepared by solvents having different polarities. Methods: The extracts of aerial parts of H. persicum were obtained by maceration, and in vitro antiLeishmanial efficacy was assayed on L. tropica promastigotes using CellTiter-Glo® Cell Viability assay. Results: The diethylether extract of H. persicum was found to be the most active extract on L. tropica promastigotes with IC50 value at 151.6 µg/ml. The n-hexane extract with 160.2 µg/ml IC50 value exhibited higher antiLeishmanial activity than methanol, ethylacetate and etanol extracts which had IC50 values at 229, 343.5, and 4708 µg/ml, respectively Conclusions: The n-hexane and the diethylether extracts of H. persicum which showed remarkable in vitro antiLeishmanial activities could constitute a valuable source for leishmanicidal compounds. Peer Review History: Received 24 May 2024; Reviewed 11 July 2024; Accepted 21 August; Available online 15 September 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, [email protected] Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected] Dr. Sangeetha Arullappan, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, [email protected]