Aghaei M, Manesh A H. Phytotherapy for Healing of Invasive Infectious Lesions of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Effective Medicinal Plants and Analysis of Their Mechanisms of Action. pbp 2025; 7 (1)
URL:
http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-263-en.html
1- Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Mahsa.aghaii74@gmail.com
2- Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (62 Views)
Introduction: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin disease caused by the Leishmania parasite, prevalent in many tropical and subtropical regions. Current treatment options include various chemical drugs that often come with side effects and limited effectiveness. Recently, there has been growing interest in medicinal plants as alternative treatments for this disease. Due to their natural compounds, medicinal plants may offer effective solutions with minimal side effects. This study aims to review and assess the medicinal plants effective against cutaneous leishmaniasis, providing a comprehensive overview of the identified plants and their active compounds that could be beneficial in treating this condition.
Methods: In this review study, keywords such as Leishmania, leishmaniasis, traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and treatment were searched in databases like Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, and Scopus. Irrelevant articles were excluded, and relevant articles were selected for literature review.
Results: Based on the findings, several medicinal plants such as Urtica dioica, Ferula assa-foetida, Artemisia absinthium, Allium sativum, Eucalyptus globulus, Achillea millefolium, Lavandula angustifolia, Myrtus communis, Satureja Khuzestanica, Onosma dichroanthum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Quercus spp., Cassia spp., Capparis spinosa, Linum usitatissimum, Ricinus communis, Juglans regia, Thymus vulgaris, Lawsonia inermis, Mimosa pudica, Aloe vera, Vigna mungo, Berberis vulgaris, Matricaria chamomilla, and Curcuma longa are identified as effective for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis. The families Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, with a frequency of 16%, have the highest representation among the samples, indicating their significance. Other families account for smaller percentages of the overall data. The natural compounds in medicinal plants play a vital role in boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting parasite growth. These compounds, with antioxidant properties, apoptosis induction in parasites, and anti-inflammatory effects, help cleanse the digestive system and improve general body health.
Conclusion: This study indicates that various medicinal plants, particularly from the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families, could serve as effective treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis. The natural compounds in these plants significantly enhance immune function, reduce inflammation, and inhibit parasite growth, leading to notable improvements in general health and disease control. Hence, further research is necessary to identify and utilize these plants in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Received: 2024/07/17 | Accepted: 2024/11/11 | Published: 2024/11/12