Investigation of in vitro Cytotoxicity of Chelidonium majus against Leishmania Major

One of the public health issues in the endemic areas, especially in the Middle East region would be the Leishmaniasis. The suggested cure for leishmaniasis is pentavalent antimonials. These medications have drastic side effects and the risk of relapse. On the other hand, nowadays use of herbal remedies as safe and cost-effective treatments have been increased. Therefore this study was designed to determine in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanol extracts of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) against Leishmania major. Greater celandine extract was added to L. major promastigotes and intra-macrophagic amastigotes. After ۲۴, ۴۸ and ۷۲ h in vitro culture the percentage of promastigotes viability was calculated by direct counting method and MTT assay. Cytotoxicity in intra-macrophagic amastigotes was evaluated by direct counting method. Viability in minimum dose and maximum dose-treated groups (۱.۵ and ۹۰ μg/ml) after ۲۴ h, was ۵۵.۵۲% and ۳۶.۳۴%, respectively. After ۴۸ h, it was ۴۰% and ۲۵.۲۶% and after ۷۲ h, it was ۶۲.۱۸% and ۳۸.۴۵%, respectively. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC۵۰) was ۰.۹۲ μg/ml, after ۲۴ h. Cytotoxicity in intra-macrophagic amastigotes treated by ۳ μg/ml dose after ۲۴ and ۴۸ h, was ۳۳.۲۳% and ۵۰.۳۴%, respectively. It could be concluded that greater celandine methanolic extract has in vitro cytotoxic effect on the L. major in time and dose-dependent pattern.

Keywords:

amastigotes , celandine , Chelidonium , Leishmania major , promastigotes