In vitro antiprotozoal activity of some medicinal plants against sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.

Antiprotozoal activity of 36 medicinal plants was evaluated.In vitro potency against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. b. rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania infantum beside cytotoxicity on MRC-5 fibroblasts were determined.

Maytenus parviflora showed the highest activity against T. b. brucei (IC₅₀ of 0.6 μg/ml) and T. b. rhodesiense (IC₅₀ of 0.5 μg/ml) with low cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ of 30 μg/ml). Saussurea costus and Commiphora wightii, showed pronounced potency against T. cruzi with an IC₅₀ of 3.6 and 2.5 μg/ml, respectively. Jatropha pelargonifolia and Solanum villosum exhibited pronounced activity toward L. infantum with an IC₅₀ of 3.2 and 2.0 μg/ml, respectively. M. parviflora, S. costus, C. wightii, J. pelargonifolia and S. villosum showed relevant selectivity.