Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1991 Oct; 85(5): 499-501.

The failure of traditionally used desert plants to act against cutaneous leishmaniasis in experimental animals.

Lockman Y, Vardy D, Ohayon D, el-On J.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Several desert plants that are traditionally used by the Bedouin community as folkloristic treatment for skin diseases were examined for their efficacy against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in BALB/c mice. Water and chloroform extracts made from these plants were incorporated into cetomacrogol and soft white paraffin respectively and some were supplemented with DMSO. These preparations were applied twice daily for up to 30 days to CL lesions caused by Leishmania major. None of the extracts tested showed any leishmanicidal effect.