The Therapeutic Effect of Shirvan Herbal Ointment on Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Compared with Glucantime.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) infection is caused by the Leishmania major (L. major) parasite and affects 1.5 to 2 million people worldwide each year. Although research into vaccines and antiparasitic drugs has been somewhat successful, their adverse effects include high toxicity, prolonged regeneration, and scarring. This has highlighted the importance of research to replace natural products with antibacterial and antioxidant properties, such as vegetable extracts and oils. Since, the anti-leishmaniasis effect of each of the components of Shirvan herbal ointment (aloe vera, Brazembel, Nigella sativa, propolis, lavender, and olive oil) has been separately studied and confirmed, it seems that the combination of these components can have an increasing anti-leishmanial effect to treat CL. Therefore, this study investigated the therapeutic impact of Shirvan herbal ointment on Iranian patients with leishmaniasis in comparison with glucantime (meglumine).

Materials and methods: Sixty patients with leishmaniasis were divided into the control and test groups. The control and test groups received intralesional glucantime and Shirvan herbal cream (two times daily), respectively.

Results: The size mean of the lesion was 51.5 ± 32.5 before and 11.11 ± 16.28 after treatment in the control group and 50.8 ± 31.2 before and 0.0 ± 0.0 after treatment in the test group. In addition, the period mean of treatment was 43.9 ± 14.4 days and 30.5 ± 7.4 days in the control and test groups, respectively. There was a significant difference in lesion size between the two groups after treatment.

Conclusion: Data suggested that Shirvan herbal ointment can be an alternative drug in the treatment of human CL.