Volume : 13, Issue : 06, June – 2026

Title:

ANTI-LEISHMANIAL POTENTIAL OF STATINS: TARGETING 3-HYDROXY-3-METHYLGLUTARYL COENZYME A REDUCTASE (HGMR) IN LEISHMANIA DONOVANI

Authors :

Kotapally Shivashankar*, Chandrasekhara Rao B, Sushma Desai

Abstract :

Visceral leishmaniasis is a severe parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani, affecting millions worldwide. The sterol biosynthetic pathway, particularly ergosterol synthesis, plays a crucial role in parasite survival and represents a promising therapeutic target due its absence in human host.The role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HGMR) as a potential drug target in leishmania donovani and evaluate the therapeutic potential of HGMR inhibitors. HGMR is a rate limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway responsible for ergosterol biosynthesis in Leishmania. Various studies demonstrate that inhibition of HMGR using statins such as atorvastatin and simvastatin significantly reduces parasite growth by disrupting membrane integrity and essential metabolic functions. Additionally, targeting this pathway shows minimal toxicity to host cells due to pathway differences.HGMR represents a promising and effective target for the development of novel antileishmanial therapies, with multiple inhibitors showing significant efficacy in experimental studies.
Key words: Leishmania Donovani, HMGR, Atrovastatin, Antileashmanial activity, Statins

Cite This Article:

Please cite this article in press Kotapally shivashankar et al Anti-Leishmanial Potential Of Statins: Targeting 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase (HGMR) In Leishmania Donovani, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(06).

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