Anti-Leishmania and immunomodulatory potential of extracts of Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae) Potencial anti-Leishmania e imunomodulador dos extratos de Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae) Potencial anti-Leishmania y inmunomodulador de extracto de Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae)

Infusions of leaves, bark and seeds of Campsiandra laurifolia Benth. (Fabaceae) are used by communities of AfricanAmerican descendants of slaves (quilombolas) mainly for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), wounds, ulcers and tinea. Hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of C. laurifolia were investigated for anti-Leishmania activity on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and immunomodulatory responses, including cell proliferation of splenocytes and NO production by peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. The hydroalcoholic extracts of the bark and the aqueous extracts of the leaves and seeds presented a reduced activity against amastigotes and promastigotes (<20%), and the same result was observed for the inhibition of NO production by activated macrophages (<23%). Most of the extracts displayed a moderate immunosuppressive potential (32.6 to 38.5%); on the other hand, the aqueous extracts of seeds inhibited up to 87% of the growth of splenocytes of BALB/c mice stimulated with mitogens. Such activity may explain the use of C. laurifolia for the treatment of CL by quilombolas. Its use may not be mainly associated with a direct action on the parasite but with an anti-inflammatory activity because such activity decreases the tissue damage caused by the immune system in response to the infection and, consequently, aids the healing process of leishmanial lesions.