Phytochemical characterization and assessment of anti-leishmanial activity of Toona ciliata M. Roem leaf extract in Leishmania donovani infection

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Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, affects millions of people globally. Various chemotherapeutic interventions have been employed for its treatment; however, the emergence of resistance in parasites and the adverse side effects associated with these medications have necessitated the screening of traditionally significant medicinal plants. We have investigated the phytochemistry screening, characterization, and in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of Toona ciliata M. Roem leaf extract. Leaf metabolites were extracted using a Soxhlet system with ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent. The total phenolic and total flavonoid content were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu (FC) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) methods, respectively. HPTLC, HRLC-MS, GC-MS, and FTIR analyses were conducted to ascertain the essential chemical composition and functional groups associated with phytoconstituents present in the extract. Leishmania inhibition assays were performed against both promastigote and amastigote forms, yielding IC50 values of 44.40 ± 5.53 µg ml−1 and 32.34 ± 1.89 µg ml−1 & 21.68 ± 0.59 µg ml−1 in J774A.1 and RAW264.7 cells respectively. Furthermore, to determine the extract's safety profile, a cytotoxicity assay conducted on cell lines such as J774A.1, RAW264.7 and THP-1, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and erythrocytes indicated no toxicity. These findings established a foundation for further comprehensive research on Toona ciliata M. Roem, aiming to identify novel bioactive compounds exhibiting anti-leishmanial activity within the crude extract.