Antileishmanial Activity of Hyssopus officinalis, Tussilage farfara, Carum copticum extracts in Mice Infected with Leishmania major

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transported by sand flies. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of herbals and compared with systemic glucantime against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Balb/c mice. The in vivo studies were carried out on cutaneous leishmaniasis in inbred mice to evaluate the effects of topical application of the ointment-based extracts two times daily for 20 days.45 mice were randomised into five groups [placebo group received the ointment base without the extract ,systemic glucantime as a reference group ,Test groups including plants [nine mice]. The ulcers diameter were measured by Kulis Vernier.Burden parasite in spleen was assayed. The results were suggestive that plants ointments were effective in reduction of ulcer size and burden parasite in spleen but were not significantly more effective in reduction of ulcer size and burden parasite in spleen as compared with glucantime [p=0.006, 0.002 and 0.008, respectively]. Our results are suggestive that plants are effective for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice.