PLOS ONE · 9 authors, 4 centres
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This in vitro study tested combinations of Lucilia sericata larval excretion/secretion and Apis mellifera honey against Leishmania major. The combinations showed synergistic leishmanicidal effects against both promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms without significant toxicity to macrophage cells.
This preclinical in vitro study investigated the leishmanicidal effects of Lucilia sericata larval excretion/secretion (ES) fractions combined with Apis mellifera honey against Leishmania major promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, using a J774A.1 macrophage cell line. The study evaluated inhibitory concentrations (IC50), cytotoxicity, infection rates, and parasite load. Central results showed that crude ES plus honey had an IC50 of 21.66 μg/ml against promastigotes, which was lower than the positive control glucantime (27.03 μg/ml). Microscopic examination revealed that treatments at 150 to 300 μg/ml significantly reduced macrophage infection rates and amastigotes per cell. The combinations demonstrated synergistic activity and did not show significant toxicity to macrophage cells, with over 88% viability at 300 μg/ml. The findings suggest a promising basis for future in vivo research but do not imply clinical treatment efficacy.
