Antileishmanial Activity of Ziziphus spina-christi Leaves Extract and Its Possible Cellular Mechanisms

Abstract

This experimental investigation was designed to assess the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial effects of Z. spina-christi methanolic extract (ZSCME) and also aims to assess some of the antileishmanial mechanisms such as the NO production, apoptosis, and plasma membrane permeability. We assessed the in vitro leishmanicidal effects of ZSCME (10–200 µg/mL) against intracellular amastigote stage of the Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and, then, in vivo examined male BALB/c mice infected by L. major. In addition, the rate of infectivity, Caspase 3 activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, the plasma membrane permeability, and the cytotoxic effects of ZSCME were studied. The primary phytochemical analysis of ZSCME revealed the existence of high amounts of flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, and saponin in this plant. The findings exhibited that ZSCME meaningfully (p < 0.001) reduced the viability of amastigotes of L. major, whereas it prompted the creation and release of NO, apoptosis, and the plasma membrane permeability (p < 0.05) and indicated no cytotoxicity in macrophage cells. The in vivo results also demonstrated that ZSCME significantly decreased the parasite load and the diameter of the lesions in the infected mice. Our results demonstrate the promising in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial effects of ZSCME against of L. major. Although the findings of the present study showed some possible antileishmanial mechanisms of ZSCME, such as stimulating NO production, apoptosis, and increasing plasma membrane permeability, additional investigations are required to confirm these results.

Ethnopharmacology, Biological Evaluation, and Chemical Composition of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.: A Review

“…The leaves obtained from Indonesia [ 29 , 83 ] as well as other parts of the world [ 70 , 85 ], were reported to have shown the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, and triterpenes. The presence of monosaccharides, reducing sugars, pentose, ketosis, deoxy sugars, and indole alkaloids were reported in the leaves collected from the Plateau state, Nigeria [ 122 , 164 ]. The detection of glycosides in the aerial parts and cardiac glycoside in the leaves was also reported [ 85 ].…”

“…Difference in geographical location has been noted to influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants. In the aerial parts collected in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia [ 122 ], and fruits and seeds collected in Qena city, Egypt [ 75 ], saponin was reportedly absent. Studies on the bark, fruit, root, seed, and leaf extracts were reported to have shown the presence of steroids, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids, but absence of triterpenes [ 75 ].…”

Therapeutic Potential and Safety of the Cinnamomum zeylanicum Methanolic Extract Against Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mice

“…The solution was then passed through a Whatman filter paper and concentrated at 55°C under vacuum conditions using a rotary evaporator (Heidolph, Schwabach, Germany). The lyophilized extract was preserved at −20°C until testing ( Albalawi, 2021 ).…”

“…We analyzed CZME for the presence of phytochemicals such as terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and tannins using some qualitative experiments explained previously ( Albalawi, 2021 ).…”

Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. exhibits promising in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major infection

“…Three hundred grams of the dried leaves were extracted by percolation method using 70% methanol for 72 h at 21°C. Extract was then filtered by filter paper and concentrated in vacuum condition at 55°C using a rotary evaporator (Heidolph, Germany) and kept at -20°C until testing (Albalawi, 2021d).…”