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Githinji, E.K., Irungu, L.W., Tonui, W.K., Rukunga, G.M., Mutai, C., Muthaura, C.N., Lugalia, R., Gikandi, G., Wainaina, C.W., Ingonga, J.M. and Wanjoya, A. (2010) In Vitro Effects of Warburgia ugandensis, Psiadia punctulata and Chasmanthera Dependes on Leishmania Major Promastigotes. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 7, 264-275.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v7i3.54791

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Antileishmanial Potential of Piper nigrum Seed Extracts against Leishmania donovani

  AUTHORS: Garima Chouhan, Mohammad Islamuddin, Farnaz Ahmad, Dinkar Sahal, Farhat Afrin

  KEYWORDS: Visceral Leishmaniasis, Leishmania donovani, Piper nigrum, Antileishmanial, Plant Extracts

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol.4 No.4, November 27, 2014

  ABSTRACT: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a pestilent form of leishmaniasis that chiefly impinges the poorest sections of the society. The prototypical therapeutic interventions in vogue are handicapped due to toxicity and alarming increase in drug resistance. In the absence of vaccines, progressive emergence of HIV-VL co-infection and relapse in the form of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, have fuelled the quest for alternative therapies. Herein, we report antileishmanial activity of Piper nigrum, which is endowed with multifarous medicinal properties. Hexane (PNH) and ethanolic (PNE) extracts of P. nigrum substantially inhibited the growth of Leishmania donovani promastigotes with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 31.6 and 37.8 μg·ml-1, respectively. Growth reversibility analysis revealed the leishmanicidal effect of PNH which caused cell shrinkage and flagellar disruption. In contrast, PNE treated promastigotes showed partial effect. PNH and PNE also abrogated the growth of intra-macrophagic Leishmania amastigotes with IC50 of 14.6 and 18.3 μg·ml-1, respectively. Anti-amastigote efficacy of PNH was accompanied by higher selectivity over host macrophages than PNE. Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry showed the presence of several secondary metabolites such as trans-β-caryophyllene, piperine, β-bisabolene and other sesquiterpenes in PNH and piperine, δ-(sup 9)-cis oleic acid and piperyline in PNE. Conclusively, our work revealed discernible antileishmanial activity of P. nigrum extracts.