In vitro anti-leishmania tropica activity of ganoderma lucidum extracts

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), caused by Leishmania tropica, remains a significant public health issue in endemic regions like Iraq. Current treatments are limited by toxicity and drug resistance, underscoring the need for safer alternatives. This study evaluated the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of aqueous extracts of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) against L. tropica. Parasites were isolated from CL patients in Baghdad and confirmed as L. tropica using kDNA-PCR. The effects of three concentrations of GL extract (50, 100, and 150 mg/mL) on cultured promastigotes in NNN medium were assessed, with viability monitored hourly using erythrosine-B staining. The results demonstrated concentration- and time-dependent parasite destruction. A concentration of 50 mg/mL resulted in 50% mortality, 100 mg/mL showed moderate effects (~ 75% mortality), and 150 mg/mL led to complete inhibition (100% mortality) after 4 h, compared to only 5.98% in the control group. kDNA-PCR confirmed a diagnostic accuracy of 95% for L. tropica. These findings highlight the potent in vitro efficacy of GL aqueous extract, positioning it as a promising natural candidate for CL treatment. Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate its therapeutic potential.