Medicinal plants in the fight against leishmaniasis

Despite the tremendous progress mode in the understanding o f the molecular biology of Leishmania and the clinical possibilities presented by some experimental chemotherapeutic agents, no new drugs have been developed for the treatment of leishmaniasis since the introduction of the pentovalent antimoniols more than 50 years ago. As reviewed here by Maurice M. Iwu, Joan E. Jackson and Brion G. Schuster, recognition of the current extensive use of herbal therapy in Leishmania-endemic regions has renewed interest in evaluation of plant remedies used in traditional medicine as sources of potential antileishmanials.