Selective activity of Oleanolic and Maslinic acids on the amastigote form of Leishmania spp

Leishmaniasis represents a serious threat to the health as one of the most important neglected tropical diseases as designated by the World Health Organization. The disease is endemic in 82 countries, among them Tunisia is an indigenous area for cutaneous Leishmaniasis. In a previous work, two tritepenic acids namely oleanolic and maslinic acids have been isolated from olive leaf extract. In the present paper, the in vitro activity against amastigotes stage of Leishmania (L.) infantum and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis was investigated. Maslinic acid showed the highest activity, against L. amazonensis, with an IC50 of 1.417 ±0.401 µg/ml and a selectivity index of 9.405. Although, the oleanolic acid exhibit a better activity against L. infantum with an IC50 of 0.999 ± 0.089 µg/ml and selectivity index of 8.111.