Antileishmanial Activity of Carum Copticum Essential Oil Against Leishmania Major [MRHO/IR/۷۵/ER]: An In Vitro Study

Background and Aims: Because of the toxicity and side-effects of synthetic drugs, there is a growing interest in biomedical plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antileishmanial activity of Carum copticum essential oil against Leishmania (L) major. Materials and Methods: Nineteen experimental groups were designed to determine the effect of Carum copticum essential oil against L. major and compare it with Meglumine antimonite. Group ۱ was the control group and included ۲۰۰ µl of RPMI ۱۶۴۰ plus ۲×۱۰۵ cells/ml promastigotes. Groups ۲-۱۰ included the aforementioned substances plus ۱۰ µl of ۰.۰۱, ۰.۰۲, ۰.۰۵, ۰.۱, ۰.۲, ۰.۵, ۱, ۲ and ۳ µg/ml of Carum copticum essential oil respectively. Groups ۱۱-۱۹ were similar to groups ۲-۱۰ but Meglumine antimonite (۰.۰۱, ۰.۰۲, ۰.۰۵, ۰.۱, ۰.۲, ۰.۵, ۱, ۲ and ۳ µg/ml) was used instead of Carum copticum essential oil. All the experiments were repeated five times. After ۸ hours, the antileishmanial activities of studied substances were determined. Results: Up to concentration of ۰.۵ µg/ml, no effect was observed with both substances. In comparison to control group, at ۱ and ۲ µg/ml, Meglumine antimonite had no effect on Leishmaniasis (p>۰.۰۵) while Carum copticum essential oil significantly decreased Leishmaniasis viability (p<۰.۰۵). Moreover, at ۳ µg/ml, both compounds significantly decreased Leishmaniasis viability (p<۰.۰۵). However, Carum copticum essential oil had substantially better Antileishmanial activity than the other.   Conclusions: These results suggest that comparable concentrations, in vitro antileishmanial activity of Carum copticum essential oil is better than Meglumine antimonite.

Keywords:

Carum , Leishmania major , Leishmaniasis , Promastigotes , Cutaneous Leishmaniasis , Carum copticum , Anti Leishmanial activity , Leishmania major , Promastigote