Aspidosperma pyrifolium, a medicinal plant from the Brazilian caatinga, displays a high antiplasmodial activity and low cytotoxicity

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral species of Aspidosperma plants are referred to as remedies for the treatment of malaria, especially Aspidosperma nitidum. Aspidosperma pyrifolium, also a medicinal plant, is used as a natural anti-inflammatory. Its fractionated extracts were assayed in vitro for activity against malaria parasites and for cytotoxicity.MethodsAspidosperma pyrifolium activity was evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum using extracts in vitro. Toxicity towards human hepatoma cells, monkey kidney cells or human monocytes freshly isolated from peripheral blood was also assessed. Anti-malarial activity of selected extracts and fractions that presented in vitro activity were tested in mice with a Plasmodium berghei blood-induced infection.ResultsThe crude stem bark extract and the alkaloid-rich and ethyl acetate fractions from stem extract showed in vitro activity. None of the crude extracts or fractions was cytotoxic to normal monkey kidney and to a human hepatoma cell lines, or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells; the MDL50 values of all the crude bark extracts and fractions were similar or better when tested on normal cells, with the exception of organic and alkaloidic-rich fractions from stem extract. Two extracts and two fractions tested in vivo caused a significant reduction of P. berghei parasitaemia in experimentally infected mice.ConclusionConsidering the high therapeutic index of the alkaloidic-rich fraction from stem extract of A. pyrifolium, it makes the species a candidate for further investigation aiming to produce a new anti-malarial, especially considering that the active extract has no toxicity, i.e., no mutagenic effects in the genototoxicity assays, and that it has an in vivo anti-malarial effect. In its UPLC-HRMS analysis this fraction was shown to have two major components compatible with the bisindole alkaloid Leucoridine B, and a novel compound, which is likely to be responsible for the activity against malaria parasites demonstrated in in vitro tests.

Analysis of a possible impact of preference for plant species in a rural community in the semi-arid region of Brazil

“…There are several current and very relevant records regarding the medicinal use of A. pyrifolium; however, no medicinal use was recorded for this species in the community of Santa Rita. Ceravolo et al (2018) and Araújo et al (2018) corroborate medicinal uses for A. pyrifolium by cytochemical analysis, which, Rev. Bras.…”

“…with due parsimony, could contribute to modify the uses of this plant in rural communities (Araújo et al, 2018;Ceravolo et al, 2018).…”

BIOACTIVE PROFILE OF ASPIDOSPERMA PYRIFOLIUM MART. and ZUCC: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW / PERFIL BIOATIVO DE ASPIDOSPERMA PYRIFOLIUM MART. and ZUCC: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

“…Regarding its medicinal properties, several species of the genus Aspidosperma are used in folk medicine against malaria, leishmaniasis, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, rheumatism, cancer, stomach diseases, diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction (OLIVEIRA et al, 2009;LINO;GARROTE, 2005;CAMPOS et al, 2006;BARBOSA et al, 2010;MARCONDES et al, 2010;CERAVOLO et al, 2018). As mentioned above, most species of this genus are studied regarding their biological activities due to their medicinal actions (OLIVEIRA et al, 2009).…”

“…& Zucc. (figure 1) is a plant widely distributed in the Caatinga and can reach up to 8 meters in height (PESSINI et al, 2012;CERAVOLO et al, 2018). It is popularly known as Pereiro, Pereiro-branco, Pereiro-preto, Peroba-rosa and Pereiro-do-sertão.…”

“…The antiplasmodial potential of A. pyrifolium was determined by Ceravolo et al (2018). The antimalarial activity of the ethanolic extract of the root bark, root, and selected fractions, which showed activity in vitro, were tested in mice with an infection induced by Plasmodium berghei.…”