Cannabis and St. John's Wort Oil: Effective Against Leishmania Parasites

Greg Howard
18th August, 2024

Cannabis and St. John's Wort Oil: Effective Against Leishmania Parasites

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Manisa Celal Bayar University studied plant extracts from hemp seeds and St. John's Wort for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis
  • The chloroform extract of St. John's Wort showed significant activity against the parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis
  • This extract was effective without harming host cells, making it a promising new treatment option
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a significant health concern in many parts of the world, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Current treatments for CL are often associated with high costs, toxic side effects, and increasing drug resistance, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic options. A recent study conducted by researchers at Manisa Celal Bayar University investigated the antileishmanial efficacy of plant extracts derived from Semen Cannabis (hemp seeds) and Oleum Hyperici (St. John's Wort) against Leishmania tropica, a parasite responsible for CL[1]. In this study, various solvents (n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol, and 60% aqueous ethanol) were used to prepare plant extracts, which were then tested for their ability to combat Leishmania tropica promastigotes (the parasite's motile form) and intracellular amastigotes (the parasite's form within host cells). The efficacy of these extracts was assessed using cell counting by hemocytometer and the CellTiter-Glo assay. Additionally, the impact of these extracts on infected THP-1 macrophages (a type of immune cell) and the quantity of intracellular amastigotes were evaluated. Cytotoxicity, or the potential of the extracts to harm the host cells, was also measured. The results revealed that the chloroform extract of Oleum Hyperici exhibited significant antileishmanial activity against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania tropica. This extract demonstrated a selectivity index (SI) of 12.6 against promastigotes and 16.8 against intracellular amastigotes, indicating its potential as a promising antileishmanial agent without inducing cytotoxic effects. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of previous studies that have highlighted the challenges associated with current CL treatments. For instance, a study on the isolation of Leishmania major strains from Turkish patients emphasized the severe clinical manifestations of CL in Turkey and the need for more effective treatments[2]. Another study analyzed the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, noting the variable incidence of the disease and the association between visceral leishmaniasis and canine leishmaniasis, which further complicates control efforts[3]. Moreover, the emergence of drug resistance, particularly to antimonials, has been a significant concern. A review of antimonial resistance in Leishmania spp. highlighted the limitations of current treatments and the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies[4]. In this context, the discovery of potent antileishmanial compounds from plant extracts, such as those found in Oleum Hyperici, offers a promising avenue for developing new treatments. Previous research also supports the potential of plant-derived compounds in combating leishmaniasis. For example, the isolation of physalins from Physalis minima demonstrated potent antileishmanial activity against both Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica, suggesting that natural products can be effective against different Leishmania species[5]. The current study builds on this foundation by identifying Oleum Hyperici as a potential new source of antileishmanial agents. In summary, the investigation conducted by Manisa Celal Bayar University provides compelling evidence that the chloroform extract of Oleum Hyperici holds promise as an effective and non-toxic treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study contributes to the ongoing search for alternative therapies and underscores the potential of plant-derived compounds in addressing the limitations of current CL treatments.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Semen Cannabis and Oleum Hyperici: Antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes.

Published 15th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2024.102950

Related Studies

2) Leishmaniasis in Turkey: first clinical isolation of Leishmania major from 18 autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in four geographical regions.

https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12698

3) The current epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia and implications for disease emergence in European countries.

https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12977

4) Antimony resistance in leishmania, focusing on experimental research.

https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/695382

5) Anti-leishmanial physalins-Phytochemical investigation, in vitro evaluation against clinical and MIL-resistant L. tropica strains and in silico studies.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274543


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