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Leishmaniasis is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the infectious parasitic diseases endemic of great relevance and a global public health problem. Pentavalent antimonials used for treatment of this disease are limited and new phytochemicals emerge as an alternative to existing treatments, due to the low toxicity and cost reduction. Usnic acid is uniquely found in lichens and is especially abundant in genera such as  Alectoria ,  Cladonia ,  Evernia ,  Lecanora ,  Ramalina,  and  Usnea . Usnic acid has been shown to exhibit antiviral, antiprotozoal, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of usnic acid on  Leishmania infantum chagasi  promastigotes and the occurrence of drug-induced ultrastructural damage in the parasite. Usnic acid was effective against the promastigote forms (IC 50  = 18.30 ± 2.00  µ g/mL). Structural and ultrastructural aspects of parasite were analyzed. Morphological alterations were observed as blebs in cell membrane and shapes given off, increasing the number of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cellular and mitochondrial swelling, with loss of cell polarity. We concluded that the usnic acid presented antileishmanial activity against promastigote forms of  Leishmania infantum chagasi  and structural and ultrastructural analysis reinforces its cytotoxicity. Further,  in vitro  studies are warranted to further evaluate this potential.

Ultrastructural Analysis ofLeishmania infantum chagasiPromastigotes Forms TreatedIn Vitrowith Usnic Acid