Early use of oral cholera vaccines as a prime control measure during outbreaks: Necessary but not sufficient.

INTRODUCTION: Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, cholera remains a public health problem in Sudan. The objective of the outbreak investigation was to identify associated risk factors that would help institute appropriate control measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case control study design was chosen to identify the risk factors for cholera in Gadarif State. RESULTS: Multi-variate analysis of identified two risk factors and three preventive factors for cholera in Gadarif City. RISK FACTORS: Buying foods or drinks from street vendors (OR = 71.36), 95 % CI: 16.58-307.14), living in an urban setting (Gadarif City) (OR = 5.38), 95 % CI: 2.10-13.81); and the preventive factors were: Washing hands with water after defecation but without soap (OR = 0.16), 95 % CI: 0.04-0.63) or with soap (OR = 0.01), 95 % CI: 0.00-0.03), washing hands before eating (OR = 0.15), 95 % CI: 0.05-0.51) and taking Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) (OR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.08-0.44). The effectiveness of OCV (VE) was (Unadjusted VE: 80 %, 95 % CI: 69 %-87 %) or (Adjusted VE = 81.0 %, 95 % CI: 56.0 %-92.0 %). DISCUSSION: Cholera outbreaks, especially in the setting of a complex humanitarian crises, can spread rapidly, resulting in many deaths, and quickly become a public health crisis. Implementation of a community-wide vaccination campaign using OCV as early as possible during the outbreak while implementing other control measures to target hotspots and at-risk populations would expedite halting outbreaks of cholera and save lives.

Sudan's healthcare crisis: The struggle of kidney patients amidst conflict.

Background and Aim: Conflicts, akin to other crises, disrupt lives and healthcare infrastructure, disproportionately affecting vulnerable individuals. The ongoing Sudanese conflict, initiated on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), triggers significant population displacement, healthcare facility closures, and a scarcity of medical resources. Amid the intense conflict in Khartoum, reports of deceased individuals in the streets heighten concerns about public health, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. This crisis compounds the challenges faced by Sudan's already fragile healthcare system, impacting over 5 million displaced individuals, including those reliant on life-saving hemodialysis sessions. This commentary aims to illuminate the challenges confronting kidney dialysis patients in war-torn Sudan, emphasizing the impact on the Al-Goled hemodialysis center. Methodology: This commentary relies on reports from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), European Renal Association (ERA), and The International Society of Nephrology (ISN), along with recent journal articles discussing the consequences of ongoing conflicts. Personal observations in Al-Goled contribute to the insights, and data from the Al-Goled hemodialysis center in Sudan illuminate the struggles faced by kidney dialysis patients during the conflict, presented as a case study. Results: Kidney dialysis patients, crucial for regular hemodialysis sessions, confront severe challenges due to the overwhelming conflict. With an estimated 8000 kidney failure patients in Sudan, disruptions in healthcare services, targeted attacks on medical staff, and a shortage of resources exacerbate their plight. The Al-Goled hemodialysis center, initially designed for 30 daily sessions, experiences a surge in demand, accommodating 85 patients daily-an alarming 183% increase. Limited resources, machine malfunctions, and a shortage of medications contribute to the loss of 13 patients' lives. Conclusions: The conflict in Sudan disproportionately impacts kidney dialysis patients, causing disruptions in essential healthcare services. The surge in demand at the Al-Goled center underscores the broader impact on healthcare institutions nationwide. Local efforts to source medical supplies face bureaucratic hurdles and complex exportation procedures, impeding support for kidney patients. Patients, once receiving 3 weekly sessions, now struggle to secure even one, jeopardizing their well-being. Urgent international intervention is needed to cease the conflict and ensure the safety of healthcare facilities, especially for vulnerable populations like kidney dialysis patients.

Prediction of anticancer peptides derived from the true lectins of Phoenix dactylifera and their synergetic effect with mitotane.

Background and aims: Cancer continues to be a significant source of both illness and death on a global scale, traditional medicinal plants continue to serve as a fundamental resource of natural bioactive compounds as an alternative source of remedies. Although there have been numerous studies on the therapeutic role of Phoenix dactylifera, the study of the role of peptides has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of lectin peptides from P. dactylifera using in silico and in vivo analysis. Methods: Different computational tools were used to extract and predict anticancer peptides from the true lectins of P. dactylifera. Nine peptides that are bioactive substances have been investigated for their anticancer activity against MCF-7 and T47D (two forms of breast cancer). To counteract the unfavorable effects of mitotane, the most potent peptides (U3 and U7) were combined with it and assessed for anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HepG2. Results: In silico analysis revealed that nine peptides were predicted with anticancer activity. In cell lines, the lowest IC50 values were measured in U3 and U7 against MCF-7 and T47D cells. U3 or U7 in combination with mitotane demonstrated the lowest IC50 against MCF-7 and HepG2. The maximum level of cell proliferation inhibition was 22% when U3 (500 µg/mL) and 25 µg/mL mitotane were combined, compared to 41% when 25 µg/mL mitotane was used alone. When mitotane and U3 or U7 were combined, it was shown that these bioactive substances worked synergistically with mitotane to lessen its negative effects. The combination of peptides and mitotane could be regarded as an efficient chemotherapeutic medication having these bioactive properties for treating a variety of tumors while enhancing the reduction of side effects.

Retraction: Colonic Angiolipoma: An Extremely Rare Tumor Clinically Masquerading as Acute Appendicitis.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20659.].

Digital image determination of copper in food and water after preconcentration and magnetic tip separation for in-cavity desorption/color development.

A new analytical method for measuring copper in food and water was developed and validated, employing a solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique combined with digital-image-based (DIB) detection. A novel magnetic adsorbent of zinc ferrite/Citrullus colocynthis biochar (ZF@C.BC) was used to preconcentrate copper. A magnetic tip was used to separate the copper-loaded adsorbent from the extraction medium and to dispense it to the DIB plate. In-situ desorption and development of the spot color with iodide-starch reagent were carried out, and a digital image of the developed spots was captured using a smartphone and processed using ImageJ software. The copper adsorption capacity was 91.3 mg g-1. Desorption was effected using a 0.3 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid. The preconcentration factor was 300, the limit of detection was 4.8 µg L-1, the linearity was 16-600 µg L-1 and the sample throughput was 12 h-1. The developed approach was validated by analyzing food and water samples, confirming recoveries ≥ 91 % and 88 %, respectively, with RSD ≤ 8.4 %, n = 3.

The need for a risk-assessment tool among patients with chronic liver diseases interested in intermittent fasting: Ramadan model.

Liver diseases, especially the chronic type, are a global concern. There is a growing interest in the intermittent fasting model due to its presumed health benefits. Ramadan fasting, although religious fasting, is one of the best examples of intermittent fasting, with some differences, and is observed by more than 1 billion Muslims around the world. This month follows the Arabic Hijri calendar, which is 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar; hence, this entire month of fasting may occur in any season of the year. There is evidence that many patients with chronic liver disease are prone to adverse events upon observing this month of continuous intermittent fasting, particularly during the hot summer with prolonged hours of fasting, if they are not adequately addressed and prevented from fasting. There is a need to sound the alarm to develop a risk-assessment tool to omit vulnerable patients with chronic liver disease-who are exempted on religious grounds from observing this pattern of fasting.

A Comprehensive Review on Euphorbiaceae lectins: Structural and Biological Perspectives.

Euphorbiaceae, also known as the spurge family, is a large group of flowering plants. Despite being tropical natives, they are now widespread. Due to its medicinal and commercial importance, this family of plants attracted a lot of attention in the scientific community. The distinctive characteristic of the family is production of milky latex, which is a rich source of several lectins, the proteins that bind carbohydrates. Although their function is unclear, they are believed to defend plants against damaging phytopathogenic microorganisms, insects, and predatory animals. Additionally, they serve as crucial metabolic regulators under a variety of stressors. Detection, separation, purification, and characterization of lectins from the Euphorbiaceae family - mostly from the latex of plants - began over 40 years ago. This effort produced over 35 original research papers that were published. However, no systematic review that compiles these published data has been presented yet. This review summarizes and describes several procedures and protocols employed for extraction and purification of lectins belonging to this family. Physicochemical properties and biological activities of the lectins, along with their medicinal and pharmacological properties, have also been analyzed. Additionally, using examples of ricin and ricin agglutinin, we have structurally analyzed characteristics of the lectin known as Ribosome Inactivating Protein Type II (RIP-Type II) that belongs to this family. We anticipate that this review article will offer a useful compendium of information on this important family of lectins, show the scientists involved in lectin research the gaps in our knowledge, and offer insights for future research.

Comparative study on Lake Manzala in Egypt after and before development and purifications: Ecosystem and biomarkers; biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical.

The present work aims to evaluate the impact of Lake Manzala development, started in 2017, on lake water quality and biomarkers of Lake Oreochromis niloticus and Biomphalaria alexandrina samples from Dakahlia and Port Said during 2021 and compare it with the results of a series of studies concerning the same criteria in Lake Manzala during 2015. Results showed a remarkable increase in water EC, indicating a higher water exchange with the sea, a significant decrease in Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn levels in water samples, and a remarkable decline in Cd and Pb bioaccumulation in all fish and snail samples. Macroinvertebrate samples showed higher taxa richness than in 2015, indicating biologically improved lake water quality. Results showed no trematode transmission, while there were natural infections in B. alexandrina snails during 2015. Biochemically, liver enzymes and hematological criteria in fish and snail samples during 2021 showed levels nearer to control at Port Said, indicating a less stressed liver and more healthy specimens than in 2015. Histopathological examination of fish organs (except spleen) and snail tissues pointed to their improved tissue architecture in Port Said than that of Dakahlia (2021). However, the 2021 samples were better than those of 2015. The immunohistochemical study showed higher expression of IL-6 in Dakahlia samples than the other samples, denoting higher tissue inflammation and humoral immune response. So, all the examined criteria indicated that Manzala Lake is positively impacted by the developmental and purification process, especially in Port Said.

A novel protocol to induce mental fatigue.

Mental fatigue is a commonplace human experience which is the focus of a growing body of research. Whilst researchers in numerous disciplines have attempted to uncover the origins, nature, and effects of mental fatigue, the literature is marked by many contradictory findings. We identified two major methodological problems for mental fatigue research. First, researchers rarely use objective measures of mental fatigue. Instead, they rely heavily on subjective reports as evidence that mental fatigue has been induced in participants. We aimed to develop a task which led to not only a subjective increase in mental fatigue, but a corresponding performance decrement in the mentally fatiguing task as an objective measure. Secondly, current mental fatigue paradigms have low ecological validity - in most prior studies participants have been fatigued with a single repetitive task such as the n-back or Stroop. To move towards a more ecologically valid paradigm, our participants undertook a battery of diverse cognitive tasks designed to challenge different aspects of executive function. The AX-CPT, n-back, mental rotation, and visual search tasks were chosen to challenge response inhibition, working memory, spatial reasoning, and attention. We report results from 45 participants aged 19 to 63 years who completed a two-hour battery comprising four different cognitive tasks. Subjective fatigue ratings and task performance were measured at the beginning and end of the battery. Our novel method resulted in an increase in subjective ratings of fatigue (p < 0.001) and a reduction in task performance (p = 0.008). Future research into mental fatigue may benefit from using this task battery.

Acute and Chronic Ethanol Effects during Adolescence on Neuroimmune Responses: Consequences and Potential Pharmacologic Interventions.

Heavy ethanol consumption during adolescence has been linked to neuroimmune response dysregulation and cognitive deficits in the developing adolescent brain. During adolescence, the brain is particularly susceptible to the pharmacological effects of ethanol that are induced by acute and chronic bouts of exposure. Numerous preclinical rodent model studies have used different ethanol administration techniques, such as intragastric gavage, self-administration, vapor, intraperitoneal, and free access, and while most models indicated proinflammatory neuroimmune responses in the adolescent brain, there are various factors that appear to influence this observation. This review synthesizes the most recent findings of the effects of adolescent alcohol use on toll-like receptors, cytokines, and chemokines, as well as the activation of astrocytes and microglia with an emphasis on differences associated with the duration of ethanol exposure (acute vs. chronic), the amount of exposure (e.g., dose or blood ethanol concentrations), sex differences, and the timing of the neuroimmune observation (immediate vs. persistent). Finally, this review discusses new therapeutics and interventions that may ameliorate the dysregulation of neuroimmune maladaptations after ethanol exposure.

Lopinavir and ritonavir act synergistically with azoles against Candida auris in vitro and in a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The emergence of Candida auris has created a global health challenge. Azole antifungals are the most affected antifungal class because of the extraordinary capability of C. auris to develop resistance against these drugs. Here, we used a combinatorial therapeutic approach to sensitize C. auris to azole antifungals. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have demonstrated the capability of the HIV protease inhibitors lopinavir and ritonavir, at clinically relevant concentrations, to be used with azole antifungals to treat C. auris infections both in vitro and in vivo. Both lopinavir and ritonavir exhibited potent synergistic interactions with the azole antifungals, particularly with itraconazole against 24/24 (100%) and 31/34 (91%) of tested C. auris isolates, respectively. Furthermore, ritonavir significantly interfered with the fungal efflux pump, resulting in a significant increase in Nile red fluorescence by 44%. In a mouse model of C. auris systemic infection, ritonavir boosted the activity of lopinavir to work synergistically with fluconazole and itraconazole and significantly reduced the kidney fungal burden by a 1.2 log (∼94%) and 1.6 log (∼97%) CFU, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results urge further comprehensive assessment of azoles and HIV protease inhibitors as a novel drug regimen for the treatment of serious invasive C. auris infections.

Genome-Wide Mining of Selaginella moellendorffii for Hevein-like Lectins and Their Potential Molecular Mimicry with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein.

Multidisciplinary research efforts on potential COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic candidates have increased since the pandemic outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. This search has become imperative due to the increasing emergences and limited widely available medicines. The presence of bioactive anti-SARS-CoV-2 molecules was examined from various plant sources. Among them is a group of proteins called lectins that can bind carbohydrate moieties. In this article, we present ten novel, chitin-specific Hevein-like lectins that were derived from Selaginella moellendorffii v1.0's genome. The capacity of these lectin homologs to bind with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 was examined. Using the HDOCK server, 3D-modeled Hevein-domains were docked to the spike protein's receptor binding domain (RBD). The Smo446851, Smo125663, and Smo99732 interacted with Asn343-located complex N-glycan and RBD residues, respectively, with binding free energies of -17.5, -13.0, and -26.5 Kcal/mol. The molecular dynamics simulation using Desmond and the normal-state analyses via torsional coordinate association for the Smo99732-RBD complex using iMODS is characterized by overall higher stability and minimum deformity than the other lectin complexes. The three lectins interacting with carbohydrates were docked against five individual mutations that frequently occur in major SARS-CoV-2 variants. These were in the spike protein's receptor-binding motif (RBM), while Smo125663 and Smo99732 only interacted with the spike glycoprotein in a protein-protein manner. The precursors for the Hevein-like homologs underwent additional characterization, and their expressional profile in different tissues was studied. These in silico findings offered potential lectin candidates targeting key N-glycan sites crucial to the virus's virulence and infection.

Association of ABO blood types and clinical variables with COVID-19 infection severity in Libya.

Objective: The continuing COVID-19 pandemic is a coronavirus-related health emergency (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Inadequate efforts are still being made to address the illness situation in Libya, and this must change. To address these issues, we looked into the demography and trend of the disease as well as the potential risk factors for infection. Methods: This study is a retrospective case-control study conducted online among 616 COVID-19 patients. The p0.05 value, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and analyzed from the drawn data. Results: Males were at high risk of COVID-19 than females (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.042-1.622; p = 0.02). Anosmia and ageusia were more prominent in females. Patients with an "AB" blood group are significantly susceptible to infection. Adults (31 and above) are highly liable to infection. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking is a risk factor for those above 60 years (odds ratio = 2.228, 95% confidence interval: 1.145-4.336; p = 0.018). Individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes and/or hypertension are more prone to COVID-19 (odds ratio = 10.045, 95% confidence interval: 3.078-32.794; p = 0.000 and odds ratio = 11.508, 95% confidence interval: 3.930-33.695; p = 0.000, respectively). Conclusion: This study provided for the first time the demographic data and the trend of COVID-19 infection in Libya, which will assist the stakeholders and governmental bodies in planning protection strategies against the pandemic.

Molybdenum Carbide/Ni Nanoparticles Embedded into Carbon Nanofibers as an Effective Non-Precious Catalyst for Green Hydrogen Production from Methanol Electrooxidation.

Molybdenum carbide co-catalyst and carbon nanofiber matrix are suggested to improve the nickel activity toward methanol electrooxidation process. The proposed electrocatalyst has been synthesized by calcination electrospun nanofiber mats composed of molybdenum chloride, nickel acetate, and poly (vinyl alcohol) under vacuum at elevated temperatures. The fabricated catalyst has been characterized using XRD, SEM, and TEM analysis. The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the fabricated composite acquired specific activity for methanol electrooxidation when molybdenum content and calcination temperature were tuned. In terms of the current density, the highest performance is attributed to the nanofibers obtained from electrospun solution having 5% molybdenum precursor compared to nickel acetate as a current density of 107 mA/cm2 was generated. The process operating parameters have been optimized and expressed mathematically using the Taguchi robust design method. Experimental design has been employed in investigating the key operating parameters of methanol electrooxidation reaction to obtain the highest oxidation current density peak. The main effective operating parameters of the methanol oxidation reaction are Mo content in the electrocatalyst, methanol concentration, and reaction temperature. Employing Taguchi's robust design helped to capture the optimum conditions yielding the maximum current density. The calculations revealed that the optimum parameters are as follows: Mo content, 5 wt.%; methanol concentration, 2.65 M; and reaction temperature, 50 °C. A mathematical model has been statistically derived to describe the experimental data adequately with an R2 value of 0. 979. The optimization process indicated that the maximum current density can be identified statistically at 5% Mo, 2.0 M methanol concentration, and 45 °C operating temperature.

Fingerprint Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging Unveils Ergosteryl Ester as a Metabolic Signature of Azole-Resistant Candida albicans.

Candida albicans (C. albicans), a major fungal pathogen, causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. Fluconazole (FLC) is recommended as first-line therapy for treatment of invasive fungal infections. However, the widespread use of FLC has resulted in increased antifungal resistance among different strains of Candida, especially C. albicans, which is a leading source of hospital-acquired infections. Here, by hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering imaging of single fungal cells in the fingerprint window and pixel-wise spectral unmixing, we report aberrant ergosteryl ester accumulation in azole-resistant C. albicans compared to azole-susceptible species. This accumulation was a consequence of de novo lipogenesis. Lipid profiling by mass spectroscopy identified ergosterol oleate to be the major species stored in azole-resistant C. albicans. Blocking ergosterol esterification by oleate and suppressing sterol synthesis by FLC synergistically suppressed the viability of C. albicans in vitro and limited the growth of biofilm on mouse skin in vivo. Our findings highlight a metabolic marker and a new therapeutic strategy for targeting azole-resistant C. albicans by interrupting the esterified ergosterol biosynthetic pathway.

Phoenix dactylifera (date palm; Arecaceae) putative lectin homologs: Genome-wide search, architecture analysis, and evolutionary relationship.

The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, is a vital crop in nations in the Middle East and North Africa. The date palm was thought to have outstanding traditional medicinal value because it was abundant in phytochemicals with diverse chemical structures. The date palm's ability to withstand harsh environments could be partly attributed to a class of proteins known as lectins, which are carbohydrate-binding proteins that can bind sugar moieties reversibly and without changing their chemical structures. After scanning the genome of P. dactylifera (GCF 009389715.1), this in silico study discovered 196 possible lectin homologs from 11 different families, some specific to plants. At the same time, others could also be found in other kingdoms of life. Their domain architectures and functional amino acid residues were investigated, and they yielded a 40% true-lectin with known conserved carbohydrate-binding residues. Further, their probable subcellular localization, physiochemical and phylogenetic analyses were also performed. Scanning all putative lectin homologs against the anticancer peptide (ACP) dataset found in the AntiCP2.0 webpage identified 26 genes with protein kinase receptors (Lec-KRs) belonging to 5 lectin families, which are reported to have at least one ACP motif. Our study offers the first account of Phoenix-lectins and their organization that can be used for further structural and functional analysis and investigating their potential as anticancer proteins.

Factors associated with dementia attitudes in an adolescent cohort: Structural Equation Modelling.

Objective: Dementia-related stigma is a key barrier to people living well with dementia, leading to social isolation and poor well-being. Adolescents represent an under-researched group that will become future carers and healthcare workers for the estimated 83.2 million people who will be living with dementia by 2030. Understanding the factors involved in dementia attitude formation in adolescents is useful for the development of evidence-based anti-stigma initiatives. This study aims to identify predictors of dementia attitudes in adolescents. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data analysis. 470 participants aged 12-15 years old from secondary schools in the Southeast of England, United Kingdom completed validated questionnaires relating to dementia attitudes (KIDS and Brief A-ADS) as well as demographic information. Multiple regressions were employed as well as a path analysis via a structural equation model to test for direct and mediatory effects. Results: Multiple regression models revealed that being female, having higher levels of contact with dementia, and higher levels of empathy are positively associated with dementia attitudes in adolescents (p<0.05). Within the accepted structural equation model, empathy was a key mediator between contact and dementia attitudes. Conclusion: This study highlights the pivotal role that contact with dementia can have in influencing dementia attitudes in adolescents with empathy serving as a mediator between contact and dementia attitudes. Interventions that use contact should consider how to stimulate empathetic responses to ultimately shape dementia attitudes.

Knowledge of COVID-19 and Its Treatment Among Healthcare Worker in Al-Ahsa Region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To find out how well healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia's eastern region knew about the novel coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) in terms of its symptoms, transmission, and treatment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Saudi Arabian region of Al-Ahsa. Between December 2020 and March 2021, a questionnaire was distributed in the main hospitals in the eastern region: King Fahad Hospital, Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Hospital, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, and Maternity and Children's Hospital. Participants' knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, and treatment was assessed using our developed questionnaire tool. The Student's t-test/ANOVA test was used to compare the mean knowledge scores of different demographic groups. Results: A total of 300 HCWs participated in this study. Our study sample's mean knowledge score was 6.9 (SD = 2.1) out of 13 (53.1%), indicating a marginal degree of understanding. The duration of practice had a significant effect on the participants' knowledge of COVID-19. Senior and non-Saudi HCWs had a higher knowledge score than the rest of the groups (p ≤ 0.05). The majority of the participants were able to identify that COVID-19 is transmitted from human to human through respiratory droplets, populations at higher risk of developing severe complications, populations needing screening for COVID-19, main clinical symptoms of COVID-19, and were following the WHO guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19. Conclusion: According to our findings, HCWs only had marginal knowledge about the symptoms, transmission, and treatment of COVID-19. As our findings represent early investigation at the start of the pandemic, more research is needed to evaluate the degree of information gathered two years after the outbreak began. Furthermore, future research should identify knowledge gaps in the targeted population of HCWs and provide strategies to address them.

Antileishmanial Activities of Medicinal Herbs and Phytochemicals In Vitro and In Vivo: An Update for the Years 2015 to 2021.

Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases that present areal public health problems worldwide. Chemotherapy has several limitations such as toxic side effects, high costs, frequent relapses, the development of resistance, and the requirement for long-term treatment. Effective vaccines or drugs to prevent or cure the disease are not available yet. Therefore, it is important to dissect antileishmanial molecules that present selective efficacy and tolerable safety. Several studies revealed the antileishmanial activity of medicinal plants. Several organic extracts/essential oils and isolated natural compounds have been tested for their antileishmanial activities. Therefore, the aim of this review is to update and summarize the investigations that have been undertaken on the antileishmanial activity of medicinal plants and natural compounds derived, rom plants from January 2015 to December 2021. In this review, 94 plant species distributed in 39 families have been identified with antileishmanial activities. The leaves were the most commonly used plant part (49.5%) followed by stem bark, root, and whole plant (21.9%, 6.6%, and 5.4%, respectively). Other plant parts contributed less (<5%). The activity was reported against amastigotes and/or promastigotes of different species (L. infantum, L. tropica, L. major, L. amazonensis, L. aethiopica, L. donovani, L. braziliensis, L. panamensis, L. guyanensis, and L. mexicana). Most studies (84.2%) were carried out in vitro, and the others (15.8%) were performed in vivo. The IC50 values of 103 plant extracts determined in vitro were in a range of 0.88 µg/mL (polar fraction of dichloromethane extract of Boswellia serrata) to 98 µg/mL (petroleum ether extract of Murraya koenigii). Among the 15 plant extracts studied in vivo, the hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Solanum havanense reduced parasites by 93.6% in cutaneous leishmaniasis. Voacamine extracted from Tabernaemontana divaricata reduced hepatic parasitism by ≈30 times and splenic parasitism by ≈15 times in visceral leishmaniasis. Regarding cytotoxicity, 32.4% of the tested plant extracts against various Leishmania species have a selectivity index higher than 10. For isolated compounds, 49 natural compounds have been reported with anti-Leishmania activities against amastigotes and/or promastigotes of different species (L. infantum, L. major, L. amazonensis, L. donovani and L. braziliensis). The IC50 values were in a range of 0.2 µg/mL (colchicoside against promastigotes of L. major) to 42.4 µg/mL (dehydrodieuginol against promastigotes of L. amazonensis). In conclusion, there are numerous medicinal plants and natural compounds with strong effects (IC50 < 100 µg/mL) against different Leishmania species under in vitro and in vivo conditions with good selectivity indices (SI > 10). These plants and compounds may be promising sources for the development of new drugs against leishmaniasis and should be investigated in randomized clinical trials.