Parasite of genus Leishmania viz. L. donovani and L. infantum cause visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar, systemic disease with significant enlargement of the liver and spleen, weight loss, anemia, fever and immunosuppression. The silent expansion of vectors, reservoir hosts and resistant strains is also of great concern in VL control. Considering all these issues, the present study focused on in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial screening of ellagic acid (EA) against L. donovani. The in vitro study was performed against the protozoan parasite L. donovani and a 50% inhibitory concentration was calculated. The DNA arrest in the sub-G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle was studied. In vivo studies included the assessment of parasite burden and immunomodulation in response to treatment of ellagic acid in BALB/c mice. The levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and isotype antibodies were assessed in different groups of mice. EA showed in vitro parasiticidal activity with IC₅₀ 18.55 µg/mL and thwarted cell-cycle progression at the sub-G0/G1 phase. Administration of ellagic acid to the BALB/c mice reported diminution of splenic and hepatic parasite burden coupled with an expansion of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes. EA further potentiated a protective immune response with augmentation of Th1 type immune response evidenced by elevation of serum IgG2a levels and DTH response. EA was reported to be safe and non-toxic to the THP-1 cell line as well as to the liver and kidneys of mice. These findings endorse the therapeutic potential of EA with significant immunomodulation and can serve as a promising agent against this debilitating parasitic disease.

利什曼原虫属的寄生虫即。L. donovani和L. infantum引起内脏利什曼病 (VL) 或黑热病，这是一种全身性疾病，伴有肝脏和脾脏显着增大、体重减轻、贫血、发烧和免疫抑制。载体、储存宿主和抗性菌株的无声扩增也是 VL 控制中的一个重要问题。考虑到所有这些问题，本研究的重点是鞣花酸 (EA) 对杜氏乳杆菌的体外和体内抗利什曼原虫筛选。体外研究是针对原生动物寄生虫L. donovani进行的并计算出50%的抑菌浓度。研究了细胞周期亚 G0/G1 期的 DNA 停滞。体内研究包括评估寄生虫负荷和免疫调节对 BALB/c 小鼠鞣花酸治疗的反应。在不同的小鼠组中评估了 Th1 和 Th2 细胞因子和同种型抗体的水平。EA 显示出体外杀寄生虫活性，IC ₅₀为 18.55 µg/mL，并在亚 G0/G1 期阻碍细胞周期进程。^{对 BALB/c 小鼠施用鞣花酸报告了脾脏和肝脏寄生虫负荷的减少以及 CD4 +}和 CD8 ⁺的增加T淋巴细胞。EA 进一步增强了保护性免疫反应，增强了 Th1 型免疫反应，血清 IgG2a 水平和 DTH 反应的升高证明了这一点。据报道，EA 对 THP-1 细胞系以及小鼠的肝脏和肾脏是安全且无毒的。这些发现证实了具有显着免疫调节作用的 EA 的治疗潜力，并且可以作为一种有前途的药物来对抗这种使人衰弱的寄生虫病。