An in vitro study of the antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity of extracts of Sclerolobium paniculatum (Fabaceae)

Leishmaniasis is a neglected endemic disease and the pharmacotherapy indicated is expensive, in addition to the unwanted effects generated by the drugs, resulting in low adherence to treatment. Therefore, the search for therapeutic alternatives includes the use of medicinal plants, such as Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel, which has antioxidant, healing and antifungal properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antileishmanial activity of the methanolic and hexanic extracts of S. paniculatum against the promastigote forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (V.) guyanensis and their toxicity in J774 macrophages. As a result, the hexanic extract was considered active against L. guyanensis with an IC50 of 40 μg mL-1 over 48 hours, with no significant activity for L. amazonensis with an IC50 above 100 μg mL-1 over 24 and 48 hours. The methanolic extract showed moderate activity against L. guyanensis, with an IC50 of 82 μg mL-1 over 48 hours and an IC50 of 67 μg mL-1 over 48 hours against L. amazonensis, making it moderately active. Both extracts did not present cytotoxic profiles at any of the concentrations, being recommended for future research with other species of Leishmania sp. to optimize the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.