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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Phytochemical profiling and antileishmanial activity of Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott aerial parts: An in vitro study

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14967
Submitted
12 April 2026
Published
30-06-2026 — Updated on 12-08-2026
Versions

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease with increasing incidence and limited effective treatment options, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic agents from natural sources. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and in vitro antileishmanial activity of the hexane extract of Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott aerial parts. The plant material was collected from Kirkuk, Iraq and extracted using hexane via maceration. Phytochemical screening was performed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thin-layer chromatography analysis confirmed the presence of key phytosterols and triterpenes, including β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and lupeol. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed various bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, esters, phytol, γ-tocopherol (vitamin E) and several sterols. The antileishmanial activity was evaluated against Leishmania tropica promastigotes using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, with sodium stibogluconate as a positive control. Hexane extract exhibited moderate to significant inhibitory activity, with a maximum inhibition rate of 80 % at 4000 μg/mL. The IC₅₀ value was determined to be 94.837 μg/mL. These findings indicate that D. seguine hexane extract is rich in nonpolar bioactive compounds, particularly sterols and terpenoids, which may contribute to its antileishmanial activity. This study provides the first evidence supporting the potential use of D. seguine as a source of antileishmanial agents and highlights the need for further research to isolate and characterise its active constituents for drug development.

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