Ethanolic leaf extract of Coccinia grandis is effective against both drug resistant and drug sensitive clinical isolates of Indian Kala-azar.

The emergence of resistance to the current available drugs used for treatment against Indian Kala-azar (KA) or Visceral Leishmaniasis makes the control strategy inadequate for the disease. This grave epidemiological situation directed researches towards alternative treatments including herbal therapy. In this background, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of the leaves of Coccinia grandis (a tropical vine) against both the Sodium Stibo Gluconate (SSG) sensitive and resistant as well as Miltefosine (MIL) sensitive and resistant field isolates of Leishmania donovani. The cytotoxicity effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of C. grandis (Cg-LE) against the clinical isolates of L. donovani was checked both in promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes stages. In both sensitive and resistant promastigotes, Cg-LE stimulated reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis. Parasites infected macrophages showing enhanced nitric oxide production after Cg-LE treatment suggested the leishmanicidal activity of the leaf extract. Furthermore, Cg-LE treatment led to mitochondrial membrane damage and DNA fragmentation in promastigotes. The present study is very encouraging for the fact that Cg-LE showed promising antileishmanial activity against both SSG and MIL drug resistant clinical isolates of Indian KA.