Leishmania donovani: Assessment of leishmanicidal effects of herbal extracts obtained from plants in the visceral leishmaniasis endemic area of Bihar, India

► In this study we assessed 30 plant extracts on Leishmania donovani promastigote viability. ► Plant extracts from Agave americana, Azadirachta indica, Eclipta alba and Piper longum effectively killed L. donovani promastigote in culture. ► We investigated the minimum effective concentration (MEC) of these plant extracts. ► Plant extracts from Agave americana, Azadirachta indica and Eclipta alba were found comparatively more effective on amastigote killing at MEC. ► These plant extracts were found less toxic on human cell than Amphotericin B.