MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE SENEGALESE FLORA WITH CONFIRMED ANTI-LEISHMANIAL ACTIVITIES BY IN VIVO AND IN VITRO TESTS: A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL MANAGEMENT OF THIS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASE (REVIEW)

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family and Leishmania genus. Leishmaniosis is endemic in many countries in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South America. For a long time, the treatment of affected individuals has relied mainly on chemotherapy using among others pentavalent antimony derivatives, miltefosine and amphotericin B. However, the numerous side effects, toxicity and high cost of these treatments, as well as the emergence of resistance, pose a major challenge in the treatment of affected individuals, thus necessitating the search for new treatments. Medicinal plants are known to be an inexhaustible source of active molecules. Senegal has a rich plant diversity, including plants traditionally used to treat various diseases. Various compounds and extracts that have demonstrated significant anti-leishmanial activity have been described in the literature. The results of this research should enable a focus on the development of new natural-based treatments. The aim of this review is to list the medicinal plants of Senegalese flora used against leishmaniasis whose anti-leishmanial activity has been scientifically proven.