Genotoxicity and antileishmanial activity evaluation of Physalis angulata concentrated ethanolic extract

• We report the genotoxic risk assessment of a plant extract to treat leishmaniasis.
• Test performed with Salmonella typhimurium strains shows no positive mutagenic effect.
• After oral administrations in animals the extract does not induce chromosome damage.
• EEPA showed promising antileishmanial activity against intracellular parasites.
• Low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells was observed.

Antileishmanial in vitro tests, as well as Ames and micronucleus assays were performed with a concentrated ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata (EEPA)ResultsEEPA did not present mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium strains at concentration reaching 3000 μg/plate and did not induce mutagenic effects after two oral administrations with a 24 h interval at a dose level of 2000 mg/kg. EEPA presented antileishmanial activity and presented an IC50 value of 5.35 ± 2.50 μg/mL and 4.50 ± 1.17 μg/mL against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes, respectively. In the cytotoxicity test against macrophages, the EEPA had a LC50 of 6.14 ± 0.59 μg/mL. Importantly, the IC50 against L. amazonensis intracellular amastigotes was 1.23 ± 0.11 μg/mL.ConclusionEEPA extract is non-mutagenic and presented a promising pharmacological effect against Leishmania parasites.