The control of Leishmania infection relies primarily on chemotherapy till date. Resistance to pentavalent antimonials, which have been the recommended drugs to treat cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, is now widespread in Indian subcontinents. New drug formulations like amphotericin B, its lipid formulations, and miltefosine have shown great efficacy to treat leishmaniasis but their high cost and therapeutic complications limit their usefulness. In addition, irregular and inappropriate uses of these second line drugs in endemic regions like state of Bihar, India threaten resistance development in the parasite. In context to the limited drug options and unavailability of either preventive or prophylactic candidates, there is a pressing need to develop true antileishmanial drugs to reduce the disease burden of this debilitating endemic disease. Notwithstanding significant progress of leishmanial research during last few decades, identification and characterization of novel drugs and drug targets are far from satisfactory. This review will initially describe current drug regimens and later will provide an overview on few important biochemical and enzymatic machineries that could be utilized as putative drug targets for generation of true antileishmanial drugs.

The Allium genus, encompassing garlic, onion, chives, and related species, has been an integral part of traditional medicine for centuries due to its remarkable pharmacological properties. This review consolidates current insights into the therapeutic potential of Allium species, focusing on their diverse bioactive compounds, including organosulfur compounds, flavonoids, phenolics, phytosterols, and essential oils. These constituents confer a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective effects. Key bioactive such as allicin, ajoene, and S-allyl cysteine play pivotal roles in modulating cellular signaling pathways like Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3 K/AKT), and Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2), contributing to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Species-specific characteristics, processing methods, and environmental factors significantly influence the bioavailability and efficacy of Allium-derived compounds. This review underscores the multifaceted health benefits of Allium species, highlights knowledge gaps, and identifies future directions for their clinical and pharmacological exploitation, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional applications and evidence-based therapeutics.