Leishmaniasis is a major vector-borne disease triggered by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine female sand flies. This parasite causes a wide range of human diseases, from localized self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic effects of curcumin on Leishmania major promastigotes (MHOM/SA/84/JISH) and to assess these effects on the cell cycle of promastigotes. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity and proliferation of promastigotes. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle. The Annexin V/propidium iodide staining technique followed by flow cytometry was used to study the cell death induced by curcumin. In this study curcumin showed a potent antileishmanial effect, exhibiting cytotoxicity against L. major promastigotes. At 80 μM, the survival in curcumin treated promastigotes reached 22%; however, the median lethal concentration of curcumin (LC₅₀) was 35 μM. The drug exerted its cytotoxic effect by inducing apoptosis. Curcumin-induced cell death in promastigotes reached 82.5% at 80 μM concentration. In addition, curcumin delayed the cell cycle in the S-phase inhibiting cell proliferation. Thus, curcumin was shown to be effective against L. major promastigotes. Therefore, curcumin merits further research studies to demonstrate its efficacy in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis.

利什曼病是一种主要的媒介传播疾病，由利什曼原虫属的专性细胞内原生动物寄生虫引发，并通过雌性白蛉叮咬传播。这种寄生虫会导致多种人类疾病，从局部自愈性皮肤损伤到致命的内脏感染。本研究的目的是研究姜黄素对大利什曼原虫的细胞毒性、抗增殖和凋亡作用。前鞭毛体 (MHOM/SA/84/JISH) 并评估这些对前鞭毛体细胞周期的影响。MTT比色法用于评估前鞭毛体的细胞毒性和增殖。此外，流式细胞术用于分析细胞周期。Annexin V/碘化丙啶染色技术随后流式细胞术用于研究姜黄素诱导的细胞死亡。在这项研究中，姜黄素显示出有效的抗利什曼原虫作用，对L.主要前鞭毛体表现出细胞毒性。在 80  μM 时，姜黄素处理的前鞭毛体的存活率达到 22%；然而，姜黄素的中位致死浓度 (LC ₅₀ ) 为 35 微米。该药物通过诱导细胞凋亡发挥其细胞毒性作用。在 80  μM 浓度下，姜黄素诱导的前鞭毛体细胞死亡达到 82.5% 。此外，姜黄素在抑制细胞增殖的 S 期延迟细胞周期。因此，姜黄素被证明对主要前鞭毛体有效。因此，姜黄素值得进一步研究以证明其治疗皮肤利什曼病的功效。