title: In vitro antiplasmodial activity of Central American medicinal plants.
abstract: The in vitro antiplasmodial activities of 14 plant species traditionally used in Central America for the treatment of malaria or fever were evaluated. Lipophilic extracts of Piper hispidum, Siparuna andina, S. pauciflora, S. tonduziana, and Xylopia cf. frutescens, proved to be active against both a chloroquine-sensitive and a resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. IC50 values ranged between 3.0 microg/ml and 21.9 microg/ml; however, moderate cytotoxicity of active extracts was observed. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Piper hispidum yielded 2',4, 6'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone (asebogenin) as an active compound.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazie (Pharmazeutische Biologie), Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany. kjsiems@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jenett-Siems
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Mockenhaupt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bienzle
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002489:Central America; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials