In vitro Anti-leishmanial Activity of Traditional Medicinal Plants from Cameroon and Ghana

The aim of the study was to screen selected traditional medicinal plants from Cameroon and Ghana for their in vitro anti-leishmanial activity. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the selected plants were assessed for their effect on the promastigote stage of Leishmania tarentolae. Parasites were incubated with different concentrations of the extracts and proliferation inhibitory effects were monitored after 24 h and 48 h. Preliminary phytochemical screenings were carried out on extracts of these plants. Among the plants investigated in this study, extracts from Steganotaenia araliacea, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Phyllanthus muellerianus and Hoslundia opposita affected the proliferation of L. tarentolae most potently. Growth inhibition was concentration-dependent with an IC50 after 48 h ranging between 0.41-0.68 mg mL(-1). Preliminary phytochemical screenings were carried out on extracts revealing the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrates and tannins in the selected plants. This study reveals that S. araliacae, A. leiocarpus, P. muellerianus and H opposita extracts could lead to an alternative application in the control of Leishmania infections.