MEDICINAL-PLANTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST LEISHMANIASIS

Despite the tremendous progress made in the understanding of the molec ular biology of Leishmania and the clinical possibilities presented by some experimental chemotherapeutic agents, no new drugs have been dev eloped for the treatment of leishmaniasis since the introduction of th e pentavalent antimonials more than 50 years ego. As reviewed here by Maurice M. Iwu, Joan E. Jackson and Brian G. Schuster, recognition of the current extensive use of herbal therapy in Leishmania-endemic regi ons has renewed interest in evaluation of plant remedies used in tradi tional medicine as sources of potential antileishmanials.