Anti-leishmanial Activity of <i>Zataria multiflora</i> and <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> Essential Oils Against <i>Leishmania major</i>: Phytochemical Analysis and Therapeutic Efficacy
| Author | Kambiz Karimi | en |
| Author | Mahmood Reza Moein | en |
| Author | Qasem Asgari | en |
| Author | Mohammad Saleh Bahreini | en |
| Author | Amin Shamsaee Sarvestani | en |
| Author | Mohammad Hossein Motazedian | en |
| Orcid | Kambiz Karimi [0000-0001-5903-9442] | en |
| Orcid | Mahmood Reza Moein [0000-0002-3355-4654] | en |
| Orcid | Qasem Asgari [0000-0002-7945-2370] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Saleh Bahreini [0000-0001-9638-2522] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Hossein Motazedian [0000-0003-0117-9666] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, impacts millions, especially in resource-limited areas. Objectives: This study examines the chemical composition and anti-leishmanial potential of Zataria multiflora and Thymus vulgaris essential oils against Leishmania major, a key cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Methods: The chemical composition of Z. multiflora and T. vulgaris essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Their anti-leishmanial effects against L. major promastigotes (31.25 - 1000 µg/mL) were evaluated via flow cytometry, while anti-amastigote activity was determined by counting infected macrophages using light microscopy. Cytotoxicity against J774 cells was assessed with the MTT assay after 48 hours. Results: The main compounds in T. vulgaris and Z. multiflora essential oils were thymol (49.83% and 46.46%, respectively), along with γ-terpinene (14.93%) and cymene (10.99%) in the former, and carvacrol (32.47%) in the latter. Both oils showed activity against L. major promastigotes (IC50 = 92.75 and 59.69 µg/mL, respectively) and amastigotes (48 hours) (IC50 = 100.68 and 87.28 µg/mL, respectively). Cytotoxicity on J774 cells (CC50 = 820.4 and 799.6 µg/mL) resulted in Selectivity Indices (SI) of 8.84 (promastigote) and 8.14 (amastigote) for T. vulgaris, and 13.39 (promastigote) and 9.16 (amastigote) for Z. multiflora. In the promastigote assay, amphotericin B [20 µg/mL, positive control (PC)] caused 89.71% mortality, confirming assay validity. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the anti-leishmanial potential of Z. multiflora and T. vulgaris essential oils against L. major, but further in vivo validation is required. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm-165926 | en |
| Keyword | Essential Oil | en |
| Keyword | Cutaneous Leishmaniasis | en |
| Keyword | Phytochemical Composition | en |
| Keyword | <i>Zataria multiflora</i> | en |
| Keyword | <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Anti-leishmanial Activity of <i>Zataria multiflora</i> and <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> Essential Oils Against <i>Leishmania major</i>: Phytochemical Analysis and Therapeutic Efficacy | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |