Toxicological analysis and effectiveness of oral Kalanchoe pinnata on a human case of cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 801 - 803
• Main Authors: Torres-Santos, E. C., Da Silva, S. A. G., Costa, S. S., Santos, A. P. P. T., Almeida, A. P., Rossi-Bergmann, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2003; Wiley
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Crassulaceae; Female; General pharmacology; Hand; Humans; Kalanchoe; leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - drug therapy; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - pathology; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Leaves; toxicity; treatment; Human; Skin disease; Protozoal disease; Pharmacognosy; Toxicity; Crassulaceae; Treatment efficiency; Oral administration; Plant leaf; Parasitosis; Leishmaniasis; Medicinal plant; Infection; Case study; Antiprotozoal agent; Treatment; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Parasiticide; Spermatophyta; Skin; Phytotherapy; Kalanchoe
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1242

Leishmaniasis is an extremely dif.cult disease to treat. Previously, it was shown that oral Kalanchoe pinnata (Kp) leaf extract is strongly effective against murine leishmaniasis. Here, it is shown that the serum levels of alanine‐aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate‐aminotransferase (AST), urea and alkaline phosphatase were unchanged in mice orally treated with supraoptimal Kp doses for 30 days, indicating the absence of chronic toxicity to the liver, heart or kidney. Additionally, evidence is presented that human leishmaniasis may also be controlled with oral Kp. A 36‐year‐old man with an active cutaneous leishmaniasis was orally treated with 30 g wet weight of Kp leaves/day for 14 days. During the Kp treatment, the lesion stopped growing and slightly decreased. No adverse reactions or toxicity was observed. This study reports for the first time that Kalanchoe pinnata contains substances potentially active and safe for the oral treatment of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.