Antimalarial activity of extracts and alkaloids isolated from six plants used in traditional medicine in Mali and Sao Tome

Abstract

Methanol and chloroform extracts were prepared from various parts of four plants collected in Mali: Guiera senegalensis (Gmel.) Combretaceae, Feretia apodanthera (Del.) Rubiaceae, Combretum micranthum (Don.) Combretaceae, Securidaca longepedunculata (Fres.) Polygalaceae and two plants -collected in Sao Tome: Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Myristicaceae and Morinda citrifolia (Benth.) Rubiaceae were assessed for their in vitro antimalarial activity and their cytotoxic effects on human monocytes (THP1 cells) by flow cytometry. The methanol extract of leaves of Feretia apodanthera and the chloroform extract of roots of Guiera senegalensis exhibited a pronounced antimalarial activity. Two alkaloids isolated from the active extract of Guiera senegalensis, harman and tetrahydroharman, showed antimalarial activity (IC(50) lower than 4 microg/mL) and displayed low toxicity against THP1. Moreover, the decrease of THP1 cells in S phase of the cell cycle, after treatment with harman and tetrahydroharman, was probably due to an inhibition of total protein synthesis.

Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae): A review of its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicology

“…Furthermore, the methanol and chloroform extracts of the root exhibited an IC 50 of ˃250 µg/ml against the chloroquinone resistant P. falciparum strain (Ancolio et al, 2002). Elsewhere, extracts from seeds of S. longipedunculata did not show any activity at 50 µg/ml against P. falciparum FCA-2 from Ethiopia (Kassa et al, 1998), suggesting that the antimalarial compounds may only be present in the leaves and roots.…”

Comparative in vitro antioxidant potential of different parts of Ipomoea asarifolia, Roemer & Schultes, Guiera senegalensis, J. F. Gmel and Anisopus mannii N. E. Brown

“…Although oxidative stress may have little or no role to play in the etiology of these diseases, except in gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcer, the strong antioxidant potential of this plant suggests that it is plausible it may exert therapeutic efficacy in oxidativestress related diseases for which it is not currently recognized. This strong antioxidant activity is consistent with its phytochemical constituents which include alkaloids (Ancolio et al, 2002), guirenone and other polyphenols (Silva, Gomes, 2003;Le Grand, 1989). In fact, Bucar et al (1989) isolated 5-methylflavesperone and rhamnetin from Guiera senegalensis and demonstrated that while rhamnetin strongly inhibited peroxidation of phospholipids liposomes, the former possessed little or no such activity.…”

“…Guiera senegalensis is reportedly useful in the treatment of malaria (Ancolio et al,2002), fungal diseases (Silva, Gomes, 2003) and snake bite (Abubakar et al, 2000), while in Northern Nigeria, the plant is also reported to be useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and skin diseases. Although oxidative stress may have little or no role to play in the etiology of these diseases, except in gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcer, the strong antioxidant potential of this plant suggests that it is plausible it may exert therapeutic efficacy in oxidativestress related diseases for which it is not currently recognized.…”

Evaluation of Combretum micranthum G. Don (Combretaceae) as a Biopesticide Against Pest Termite

“…It possesses tonic, diuretic, antidiarrhea, antibiotic, antigonorrheal, antirheumatic and vermifuge (4,5,6). The leaves in decoction and chewed fresh leaves are used to treat coughs, bronchitis, hepatobiliary diseases, hepatitis and malaria (7). In combination with other plants, the leaves of Kinkeliba treat gonorrhea.…”