evaluation the effect of achillea biebersteinii afan essentiall oil on growth of promastigote and amastigote of leishmania major in vitro condition

objective:cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in some parts of iran.using pentavalent antimony compounds as first line treatment have been reported are associated with limitations and several adverse complications. so, attempt to find a new and effective compound has been under consideration.in the present study,the effect of achillea biebersteinii afanas that is a native plant in iran against leishmania major promastigote and amastigote growth in vitro condition was investigated. methods: this experimental study was carried out in tarbiat modares university at 1392.the essential oil ofachillea biebersteinii afan plan textracted by steam distillation method and was analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrograph. then effect of different concentrations of 10%, 15%, 25% and 50% of the oil on growth of promastigotes stage of leishmania and infected macrophages contain amastigote were evaluated in vitro conditions. effectiveness of theoil on promastigotes and amastigote was assessed by direct counting and mtt assay. in all of tests, each well of plate containing culture media and parasites without drug was considered as control group.the data was statistically nalyzed with anovatest. result:the mtt results indicated significant differences among the number of parasites in control and case groups treated with10%, 15%, 25% and 50% of the oil within 24, 48 and 72 h after culture.the concentration of 50% of the oil killed 66% of the macrophages contain amastigotes after 72 h. conclusion: achillea biebersteinii afanoilis found to be effective in killing leishmania major promastigotes and infected macrophages contain amastigotes.so, we propose to study the extract in vivo for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions.