Leishmaniosis phytotherapy: Review of plants used in Iranian traditional medicine on leishmaniasis

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Mahmoud Bahmani, Kourosh Saki, Behrouz Ezatpour, Somayeh Shahsavari, Zohreh Eftekhari, Mahyar Jelodari, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei, Reza Sepahvand
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015
• Subjects: Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Native medicinal plants; Iran; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic; Savory; Henna
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.018; https://doaj.org/article/3ab3dec054fd4387a378ae86289b746b

Many native plants in traditional medicine have been used for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the recent clinical trials have proven the efficacy of some of them. Researches conducted on these plants have shown that garlic, shallots, wormwood, yarrow, walnuts, thyme, henna plant, mimosa, aloe, wood betony, medlar, periwinkle, yeah, savory, black beans, etc. are effective on cutaneous leishmania. Synthetic agents in Iranian market have some disadvantages such as high cost and side effects and are painful in injections. Given the effectiveness of these plants, they can be a source of natural and safe compounds for the treatment of Leishmania. Therefore, more clinical researches should be done to determine the effectiveness and safety of these medicinal plants, their active ingredients and their possible toxic substances which can lead to the production of effective and safe drugs for leishmaniasis. It also might be an effective way to prepare herbal ointment on wound healing.