Fig. 2.

Efficacy of an ointment of hydrazones TC1 and TC2 in combination with a mixture of triterpene saponin (SS) vs. meglumine antimoniate (MA) in a L. braziliensis-hamster model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Data show the evolution of the lesion according to the size in mm² after topical treatment with 40 mg of 4% ointments TC1:SS or TC2:SS (1:3), TC1:SS or TC2:SS (1:1) and TC1:SS or TC2:SS (3:1) every day for 28 days or MA (200 μg every three days, during 28 days) (MA-28). The effectiveness of each treatment was assessed, comparing the lesion sizes before and after treatment for everyone. The area (width and length) of the ulcer were recorded before treatment (D0), the last day of treatment (TD28) and every 15 days during 3 months. Nevertheless, only TD0, TD28 and post-treatment days (PTD) 90 are shown in the figure because these are the most relevant time points to show changes related to effectiveness of the treatment. The final outcome observed at the PTD90 was recorded as cure (epithelial healing and emergence of fur); improvement (reduction of the lesion size by at least > 20%); relapse (reactivation of the lesion after the initial improvement or cure); or failure (increase of the lesion size). All combinations were made w/w percentage; final percentage of compounds in the ointment was 4%. MA was administered by intralesional route. MAI, MAD, MPI and MPD refer to the brand that identifies each hamster and the number that accompanies these letters corresponds to the cage were hamsters are housed.