the effect(s) of matricaria chamomilla on leishmania major ulcers in balb/c mice

Background & aim: Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is based on the use of pentavalent antimony compounds as injection drug with highly side effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect(s) of chamomile tea on cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in Balb/C mice. Methods: In the present experimental study, 22 male Balb C mice were inoculated with L. major promastigotes at the base of their tail to cause leishmaniasis ulcers. Then, the mice were divided into three groups of treated with chamomile tea, group treated with Glucantime, and an untreated group. In a period of two weeks, the first group was exposed to chamomile tea for 5 minutes every day, and the second group received glucantime intra-peritoneally. Finally, the size and the situation of wound healing at the beginning and at end of the study were evaluated. The collected data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: The comparison of these three groups revealed that wound healing in group one and group two were 58.3% and 80% respectively, which was significant whereas no healing was seen in the control group (p=0.028). The average area of lesions in the three groups after treatment showed statistically significant difference (p=0.0001), but no significant diffrence was observed in the average area of lesions in the two groups of Glucantime and chamomile tea. Conclusion: According to the results, the effect of chamomile tea on cutaneous wound healing was similar to tomeglumine antimoniate (Glunantime). With regard to the side effects of pentavalent antimony compounds, the chamomile tea can be recommended as an alternative drug for treatment of leishmaniasis ulcer.