Leishmanicidal activity of two typical plants from the Northeast Brazil

The leishmaniases can be defined as a group of diseases that affect human populations and various animal groups, preferably in tropical and subtropical regions, and which have numerous distinct characteristics (symptoms, diagnosis, biochemistry, immunology) related to the different forms of parasite-host interaction. They can be caused by numerous species of the Leishmania genus. The biotic potential of the Northeast region, particularly the state of Ceará, is considerably underestimated and underutilized. However, the presence of the so-called neglected diseases, particularly leishmaniasis, is unquestionably present in the state, impacting on the already shaky regional and national public health system. We must therefore seek local solutions to the problems that now exist in local society. In this way, the use of local plants, such as P. amboinicus and A. fraxinifolium, present themselves as promising alternatives for alleviating the morbidity present in numerous pathologies that occur in the state of Ceará.