In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a tropical disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. The current drugs for CL may be effective but have serious side effects; hence, alternatives are urgently needed. Although plant-derived materials are used for the treatment of...
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Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
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| Series: | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
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| author | Luz Estella Mesa Daniel Vasquez Pierre Lutgen Iván Darío Vélez Adriana María Restrepo Isabel Ortiz Sara María Robledo |
| author_facet | Luz Estella Mesa Daniel Vasquez Pierre Lutgen Iván Darío Vélez Adriana María Restrepo Isabel Ortiz Sara María Robledo |
| author_sort | Luz Estella Mesa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a tropical disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. The current drugs for CL may be effective but have serious side effects; hence, alternatives are urgently needed. Although plant-derived materials are used for the treatment of various diseases in 80% of the global population, the validation of these products is essential. Gelatin capsules containing dried Artemisia annua leaf powder were recently developed as a new herbal formulation (totum) for the oral treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases. Here, we aimed to determine the usefulness of A. annua gel capsules in CL. METHODS: The antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of A. annua L. capsules was determined via in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, a preliminary evaluation of its therapeutic potential as antileishmanial treatment in humans was conducted in 2 patients with uncomplicated CL. RESULTS: Artemisia annua capsules showed moderate in vitro activity in amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; no cytotoxicity in U-937 macrophages or genotoxicity in human lymphocytes was observed. Five of 6 (83.3%) hamsters treated with A. annua capsules (500mg/kg/day) for 30 days were cured, and the 2 examined patients were cured 45 days after initiation of treatment with 30g of A. annua capsules, without any adverse reactions. Both patients remained disease-free 26 and 24 months after treatment completion. CONCLUSION: Capsules of A. annua L. represent an effective treatment for uncomplicated CL, although further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate its efficacy and safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:42:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f34beb48415d4db1a11835b9157b394b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1678-9849 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:42:08Z |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-f34beb48415d4db1a11835b9157b394b2022-12-22T03:28:48ZengSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical1678-9849501526010.1590/0037-8682-0457-2016S0037-86822017000100052In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humansLuz Estella MesaDaniel VasquezPierre LutgenIván Darío VélezAdriana María RestrepoIsabel OrtizSara María RobledoABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a tropical disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. The current drugs for CL may be effective but have serious side effects; hence, alternatives are urgently needed. Although plant-derived materials are used for the treatment of various diseases in 80% of the global population, the validation of these products is essential. Gelatin capsules containing dried Artemisia annua leaf powder were recently developed as a new herbal formulation (totum) for the oral treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases. Here, we aimed to determine the usefulness of A. annua gel capsules in CL. METHODS: The antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of A. annua L. capsules was determined via in vitro and in vivo studies. Moreover, a preliminary evaluation of its therapeutic potential as antileishmanial treatment in humans was conducted in 2 patients with uncomplicated CL. RESULTS: Artemisia annua capsules showed moderate in vitro activity in amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; no cytotoxicity in U-937 macrophages or genotoxicity in human lymphocytes was observed. Five of 6 (83.3%) hamsters treated with A. annua capsules (500mg/kg/day) for 30 days were cured, and the 2 examined patients were cured 45 days after initiation of treatment with 30g of A. annua capsules, without any adverse reactions. Both patients remained disease-free 26 and 24 months after treatment completion. CONCLUSION: Capsules of A. annua L. represent an effective treatment for uncomplicated CL, although further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate its efficacy and safety.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822017000100052&lng=en&tlng=enCutaneous leishmaniasisArtemisia annuaLeishmania panamensisAnti-leishmanial activityTherapeutic response |
| spellingShingle | Luz Estella Mesa Daniel Vasquez Pierre Lutgen Iván Darío Vélez Adriana María Restrepo Isabel Ortiz Sara María Robledo In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Cutaneous leishmaniasis Artemisia annua Leishmania panamensis Anti-leishmanial activity Therapeutic response |
| title | In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| title_full | In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| title_fullStr | In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| title_full_unstemmed | In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| title_short | In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of Artemisia annua L. leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| title_sort | in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of artemisia annua l leaf powder and its potential usefulness in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans |
| topic | Cutaneous leishmaniasis Artemisia annua Leishmania panamensis Anti-leishmanial activity Therapeutic response |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822017000100052&lng=en&tlng=en |
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