<i>Garcinia cowa</i> bark extract induces oxidative stress mediated cellular apoptosis in <i>Leishmania donovani</i> parasite modulated by its active phytosterol constituent

Visceral leishmaniasis still remains a leading cause of parasitic deaths, with modern pentavalent antimonials showing limited efficacy and health risks. The methanolic bark extract of the Northeastern Indian plant, <i>Garcinia cowa</i>, demonstrated potent leishmanicidal effects against the parasite <i>Leishmania donovani</i>, demonstrating IC₅₀ values of 20-36 µg/ml, with selective toxicity for parasites over healthy cells. It induced parasite death through elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress elements, reduced arginase activity, nuclear fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. A GC-MS study and molecular docking identified stigmasterol as a primary component, an antileishmanial compound that inhibits <i>Leishmania donovani</i> parasite efficiently.