Plants with promising antileishmanial activity in Colombia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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Introduction
Leishmaniasis remains a major public health challenge in Colombia, driven by high incidence, Leishmania species diversity, and drug resistance. Colombian medicinal plants, rooted in rich ethnobotanical traditions and supported by the country’s exceptional biodiversity, represent a promising yet underexplored resource for the development of novel antileishmanial therapies.
Aim of the study
To systematically assess Colombian medicinal plants with reported in vitro antileishmanial activity, to estimate pooled IC 50 values through meta-analysis, and to identify extracts with favorable selectivity indices (SI) as potential antileishmanial candidates.
Materials and methods
A systematic search (2000–April 2025) of PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS identified in vitro studies reporting IC 50 values of Colombian plant extracts against Leishmania spp. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled IC 50 values. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified QUIN tool. Subgroup analyses explored methodological and biological factors, such as plant part, extraction solvent, and taxonomic family.
Results
Twenty-five studies were included, covering 110 records on 24 plant species. Thirteen studies with complete IC 50 ± SD data were eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled mean IC 50 was 41.25 µg/mL (95% CI: 37.95–44.55), with substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 100%). Lower IC 50 values were associated with bark/wood extracts, methanol or dichloromethane solvents, and species from the Chrysobalanaceae and Bignoniaceae families. Xylopia discreta (Annonaceae) showed the highest SI (up to 110). Additional species from the Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Picramniaceae, and Rutaceae families also demonstrated favorable SI values. However, methodological variability limited the ability to make direct comparisons across studies.
Conclusion
Several Colombian plant species showed promising in vitro antileishmanial activity, with selected extracts combining high potency and notably high selectivity. The inclusion of SI analysis in this review provides a more meaningful assessment of therapeutic potential beyond IC 50 values alone. These findings underscore the value of Colombia’s plant biodiversity as a source of candidate compounds for antileishmanial drug development. However, standardized in vitro protocols, consistent cytotoxicity evaluation, and in vivo validation remain essential to ensure comparability and guide the selection and advancement of the most promising extracts toward therapeutic application.
