Thymus syriacus Essential Oil Extract: Potential Antileishmanial Activity Induced by an Apoptotic-like Death.

Background

Chemotherapy continues to be the cornerstone for the management of leishmaniasis. The preferred medications are pricey and have a number of unfavorable side effects. These restrictions make it necessary to produce novel antileishmanial chemicals, and plants have opportunities in this respect.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the antileishmanial properties of Thymus syriacus essential oil and its mechanisms of action.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that Thymus syriacus essential oil, rich in thymol, exhibited potent antileishmanial activity, with an IC50 value of approximately 1 µg/mL against L. tropica promastigotes. Furthermore, the cell cycle arrest at the sub-G0-G1 phase supported the theory that the leishmanicidal effect was mediated by apoptosis.

Methods

The essential oil was characterized using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Antileishmanial activity against L. tropica promastigotes was assessed, with mechanisms confirmed via flow cytometry.

Conclusions

These results confirm the potential of Thymus syriacus essential oil as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of leishmaniasis.