fa Effect of Ethanolic Extract of <i>Mespilus germanica</i> on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in BALB/c Mice فارماكولوژی و سم شناسی Pharmacology & Toxicology پژوهشی Research <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus <em>Leishmania</em>, which affects both humans and other mammals. Most of the available drugs against the disease are toxic and some are parasite resistance to them. <strong>Objective:</strong> The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in BALB/c Mice. <strong>Methods:</strong> Ethanolic extract of Mespilus germanica with 40, 60 and 80% concentrations were prepared. Then, the BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously by 0.1 ml liquid phase culture containing promastigotes of <em>Leishmania major</em>. Ethanolic extract of the leaves of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> in different concentrations, were used topically on CL lesions. <strong>Results:</strong> The mean diameter of the lesions were decreased, and also the number of parasites in the lesions had declined with complete healing by ending the period time of treatment in 4 mice (26.7%), (p< 0.05) and in 9 animals (82%), (p<0.05) respectively, by using the 40% concentration of the extract. Also in a concentration of 60%, mean ulcer diameter decreased, with complete healing in 3 mice (20%), (p<0.001). In this concentration, the mean number of parasites in lesions had declined (66.4%), with total elimination in 8 animals (p< 0.001). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> We showed that the extract of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> has the highest effectiveness in concentration of 40%, causing greater reductions in both ulcer diameter and the number of parasites in the lesions compared with other prepared concentrations. Therefore, we suggest the use of 40% extract for the treatment of human cases.</div> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus <em>Leishmania</em>, which affects both humans and other mammals. Most of the available drugs against the disease are toxic and some are parasite resistance to them. <strong>Objective:</strong> The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in BALB/c Mice. <strong>Methods:</strong> Ethanolic extract of Mespilus germanica with 40, 60 and 80% concentrations were prepared. Then, the BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously by 0.1 ml liquid phase culture containing promastigotes of <em>Leishmania major</em>. Ethanolic extract of the leaves of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> in different concentrations, were used topically on CL lesions. <strong>Results:</strong> The mean diameter of the lesions were decreased, and also the number of parasites in the lesions had declined with complete healing by ending the period time of treatment in 4 mice (26.7%), (p< 0.05) and in 9 animals (82%), (p<0.05) respectively, by using the 40% concentration of the extract. Also in a concentration of 60%, mean ulcer diameter decreased, with complete healing in 3 mice (20%), (p<0.001). In this concentration, the mean number of parasites in lesions had declined (66.4%), with total elimination in 8 animals (p< 0.001). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> We showed that the extract of <em>Mespilus germanica</em> has the highest effectiveness in concentration of 40%, causing greater reductions in both ulcer diameter and the number of parasites in the lesions compared with other prepared concentrations. Therefore, we suggest the use of 40% extract for the treatment of human cases.</div> Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Mespilus germanica, Extract, BALB/c mice Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Mespilus germanica, Extract, BALB/c mice 76 81 http://jmp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-147-2&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 N Shariatifar N Shariatifar n_shariatifar@yahoo.com 100319475328460037499 100319475328460037499 Yes Food and Drug Deputy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Food and Drug Deputy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences R Rahimnia R Rahimnia 100319475328460037500 100319475328460037500 No Graduate, College of Medical, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Graduate, College of Medical, Tehran University of Medical Sciences AM Jamshidi AM Jamshidi 100319475328460037501 100319475328460037501 No Food and Drug Deputy, Ministry of Health and Medical Education Food and Drug Deputy, Ministry of Health and Medical Education M Pirali Hamedani M Pirali Hamedani 100319475328460037502 100319475328460037502 No Medicinal Chemistry Department, College of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Medicinal Chemistry Department, College of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Sh Shoeibi Sh Shoeibi 100319475328460037503 100319475328460037503 No Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center (FDLRC), Ministry of Health (MOH) Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center (FDLRC), Ministry of Health (MOH)