Bernard Ong’ondo Osero, Divinah Mariah, Johnstone Ingonga, Alphine Chebet, Martin Mutuku, Milkah Mwangi, Elizabeth Kigondu, Robert Mainga, Judith Makwali, Edwin Too and Damaris Matoke-Muhia

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, remains a significant public health concern in many tropical and subtropical regions. The limited treatment options necessitate exploration of new therapeutic agents. This review analyses the antileishmanial potential of bioactive components extracted from various plants collected across different regions of Kenya conducted at the Leishmaniasis laboratory of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). A selection of indigenous plants was screened for their efficacy against Leishmania parasites. Extraction of bioactive compounds was performed using standard phytochemical techniques, and the extracts were evaluated for antileishmanial activity through in vitro and in vivo assays. Key highlights from this review include the low toxicity recorded for some extracts on mammalian cells and their enhanced efficacy against Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani, as evidenced by their reduced IC₅₀ levels. Several plant extracts demonstrated significant antileishmanial properties, indicating their potential as sources for new therapeutic agents. The findings underscore the importance of ethnobotanical knowledge in drug discovery and highlight the rich biodiversity in Kenya’s natural product resources for medicinal research. Further studies are warranted to isolate and characterize the active compounds, assess their mechanisms of action, and evaluate their potential for development into antileishmanial drugs.

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