Kazem Barzegar - Head of English Language Department, School of Medicine, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ali Fattahi Bafghi - Medical Parasitology and Mycology Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ali Mohammad Ranjbar - Pharmacognosy Department, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Mahmood Vakili - MD, MPH, Associate Professor in Community Medicine, Monitoring of Health Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Subject & aims: Developing countries have been suffering from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis as an endemicdisease. WHO has recommended Glucantime as a cure for it; yet, there exist some constraints in the use of thisremedy such as high costs, unexpected complications, the need for frequent injections, and unsatisfactoryefficacy. Accordingly, this study surveyed a new approach to the therapeutic efficiency of novel Scrophulariabavanatia extract against Leishmania major. This study investigated the in vitro anti-Leishmania activities of theLocal Scrophularia bavanatia extract against Leishmania tropica Promastigotes.Materials & Methods: This experimental laboratory trial investigated the efficacy of in vitro anti-Leishmaniaactivities of Scrophularia bavanatia extract against Leishmania tropica promastigotes. The Iranian endemicspecies including Leishmania (L) major [MRHO/IR/75/ER] was proliferated and maintained in the standardculture. Then, the proper densities of Scrophularia bavanatia were provided, sterilized, and added to culturescontaining the parasites. The parasites were counted and divided among micro plates for cell proliferation andthen read by ELISA reader. The data were analyzed and compared to the control group.Results: The mean survival percentage of the parasite in various concentrations of Scrophularia bavanatiaextract and the 25 μg Glucantime concentration in the logarithmic phase at 24 h indicated a statisticallysignificant difference with the control group (P=0.000); yet, there was no such a significant difference in thestationary phase (P=0.855). Similar to 24 h, there was a significant difference at 48 h in the logarithmic phase(P=0.007) though there was no such a significant difference in the stationary phase (P=0.460). There was nosignificant difference in the mean survival percentage of the parasite at various SBE concentrations and at 25 μgGlucantime concentration in either the stationary or logarithmic phases at 72 h compared to the control group(P>0.05).Conclusion: The results suggested that prevalent Scrophularia bavanatia extract had a medical potential similarto Glucantime and induced a better and more tangible effect on promastigotes survival without parasiteresistance against it, without any complications compared to Glucantime, and with greater availability.However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect in cell culture and in vivo conditions to confirmthis.

Leishmania major, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Scrophularia bavanatia extract, in vitro