The effects of medicinal herbs and marine natural products on wound healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of medicinal herbs and marine natural products on wound healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis. To carry out this literature review, the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) instructions were used. Articles on the potential of medicinal plants and natural substances of marine origin against wound healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis were explored. The scientific databases considered were PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and SpringerLink. The scientific documents collected were mainly scientific articles, books, book chapters, and doctoral thesis. The research considered 73 manuscripts published in the period from 1990 to 2020. From all the data collected, it appears that the scientific literature is rich in medicinal herbs and marine products to be valorized in the wound healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis. We have identified 15 medicinal plants traditionally used in the management of healing or ulcer of cutaneous leishmaniasis, 32 medicinal plants whose efficacy has been demonstrated in vitro or in vivo against cutaneous leishmaniasis, 5 marine products active against cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is also clear that the option of medicinal herbs/marine products in the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis is less expensive and allows to avoid the side effects of conventional products. It is necessary to encourage the development of dermatological topicals for the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis based on the data collected. In vivo research should be intensified on medicinal herbs traditionally used in wound healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. In Vitro Efficacy on Growth and Apoptosis Induction in Leishmania major Promastigotes.

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. is a plant generally used in modern medicine to treat many human illnesses. It is also used to prevent tumor cell proliferation throughout the world. This study's objective was to evaluate this plant's in vitro efficacy on growth and apoptosis induction in Leishmania major promastigotes. To do this, the essential oil is extracted for the test following the collection and identification of D. kotschyi. The essential oil was analyzed using a GC-MS analyzer. Promastigotes of L. major were cultured in RPMI-1640 media, and the MTT assay and a flow cytometry analysis were carried out on promastigotes that had entered the log phase. To differentiate between viable, necrotic, and apoptotic treated or untreated promastigotes, the flow cytometry method of double staining with annexin V-FLUOS and propidium iodide (PI) was used. Given the results obtained, 11 phytochemicals were identified in the essential oil of this plant. Copaene (22.15%), methyl geranate (16.31%), geranial (13.78%), and carvone (11.34%) were the main substances. The essential oil of D. kotschyi inhibits the proliferation of L. major promastigotes at 921 µg/mL, 252 µg/mL, and 416 µg/mL, respectively, after 24 h, 48 h, and 78 h. The cells were divided into four quadrates based on cell phases using the flow cytometry approach by double staining with annexin V-FLUOS and propidium iodide (PI): necrosis (Q1), late apoptosis (Q2), early apoptosis (Q3), and viable (Q4) quadrates. Overall, it is apparent that the different concentrations induced cell apoptosis in promastigotes. Observation under the light microscope at ×100 magnification showed that the different doses of D. kotschyi essential oil caused apparent alterations in the treated promastigotes. In this work, D. kotschyi essential oils induce programmed death on L. major promastigotes. This study opens many research perspectives, such as investigating the mechanisms of action and the production of a phytomedicine based on this plant.