Exploring the Possible Role of Nature in Curing Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Background: Communicable diseases have always been a threat to mankind since times immemorial. Leishmaniasis, an infectious disease caused by protozoan of various species of leishmania, is a major health problem spreading across 98 countries and about 350 million people stand the risk of this infection worldwide. Medical research has struggled a lot to combat this disease. Objective: Among the various approaches available for treatment of Leishmaniasis, many are costly so there is a need to develop effective but economical and easily available antileishmanial agents. Methods: Natural products are important source of various new medicaments and their derivatives can be used for synthetic modification and bioactivity optimization. Therefore, in order to fulfil the need for novel, economical, more effective and safer chemotherapeutic agents, scientists have explored Mother Nature in detail. Results: A number of plant species possess inhibitory activity against certain types of parasites such as Leishmania major, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania aethiopica, Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania mexicana, Leishmania infantum, Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania donovani. Moreover natural products are economical, safer, more effective and without considerable side effects. Conclusion: The present review highlights the leishmanicidal activity of various natural products with an insight in to their possible mechanism.