Antiplasmodial activities of some products from Turreanthus africanus (Meliaceae).
We investigated the antiplasmodial activity of some pure compounds of Turreanthus africanus (Meliaceae), a plant that is used in traditional medicine to treat malaria in Southwest Cameroon. A phytochemical analysis of the methylene chloride: methanol (1:1) extract of the seeds of the plant yielded seven compounds. Four of them, which were oils, were subjected to in vitro bioassays on Plasmodium falciparum F 32, chloroquine sensitive strain. Compound 1 (16-oxolabda-8 (17), 12(E)-dien-15-oic acid), showed the highest antiplasmodial activity, two others (methyl-14,15-epoxylabda-8 (17), 12(E)-diene-16-oate, and turreanin A), had moderate activity and one was inactive. These findings are consistent with the use of T. africanus in the traditional treatment of P. falciparum malaria.
Ngemenya
Moses N
MN
Department of Life Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Akam
Thomas M
TM
Yong
Joseph N
JN
Tane
Pierre
P
Fanso-Free
Samuel N Y
SN
Berzins
Klavs
K
Titanji
Vincent P P K
VP
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D002163:Cameroon; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D029582:Meliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000962:Antimalarials; D010938:Plant Oils