The effect of the Persian Gulf brown algae extract (Sargassum Oligocystum) on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in vitro

Leishmaniasis is a disease which caused by Leishmania protozoan parasitic. Plant extracts and their derived compounds, provide a rich source of medicinal compounds which is by the World Health Organization considered as a candidate drug for the treatment of many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate anti-Leishmania effects of Persian Gulf brown algae extract compared to meglumine control drug in vitro.
Leishmania major promastigotes were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FBS and antibiotics, at temperature 1 ± 24 and the effect of different concentrations of Persian Gulf brown algae was evaluated by MTT assay in comparison with meglumine on Leishmania major promastigotes. The optical density was read by ELISA reader at wavelength of 540-630 nm. The results are expressed as IC50 (Inhibitory Concentration %50).
The IC50 amount of extract obtained as 20 μg/ mL for Leishmania major after 72 hours of incubation. So that the IC50 amount of meglumine control drug is 21.8 μg/mL for Leishmania major.
The effectiveness of these extracts on these parasites is roughly equivalent meglumine and have the potential of using as an anti-Leishmania drug but there is need to do more tests to assess effects of this extract on Leishmania agents in animal models and In vivo.