The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro antileishmanial activity of the methanol extract of seven medicinal plants, and the effect on nitric oxide production in macrophages. The extracts in concentration of 250 μg/mL were tested against intracellular amastigotes. Mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with Leishmania peruviana were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically to determine the parasite load by 100 macrophages. Nitric oxide was determined indirectly by its conversion to nitrite. Piper aduncum (matico) reduced the survival of amastigotes to 51,30% (p < 0,001), also observed a slight effect of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) and Punica granatum (pomegranate), while Annona cherimola (custard), Annona muricata (graviola) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) were inactive. Nitric oxide production by macrophages was increased significantly by the effect of Anno...

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro antileishmanial activity of the methanol extract of seven medicinal plants, and the effect on nitric oxide production in macrophages. The extracts in concentration of 250 μg/mL were tested against intracellular amastigotes. Mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with Leishmania peruviana were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically to determine the parasite load by 100 macrophages. Nitric oxide was determined indirectly by its conversion to nitrite. Piper aduncum (matico) reduced the survival of amastigotes to 51,30% (p < 0,001), also observed a slight effect of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) and Punica granatum (pomegranate), while Annona cherimola (custard), Annona muricata (graviola) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) were inactive. Nitric oxide production by macrophages was increased significantly by the effect of Anno...