Amazonian plants from Peru used by Quechua and Mestizo to treat malaria with evaluation of their activity.
Indigenous Quechua and Mestizo populations from distinct areas in Loreto, Peru, were interviewed about traditional medication for the treatment of malaria. An ethnographic survey concerning the native theory of illness aetiology in the specific case of malaria permitted the elaboration of an efficient ethnopharmacological enquiry. The survey took place on three main zones corresponding to villages on the Napo and the Pastaza rivers (for the Quechua), and in the surroundings of Iquitos (for the Mestizos) and led to the collection of 14 plants. Serial extractions in hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol were performed on the different parts of the plants collected. The extracts were then tested for antiplasmodial activity in vitro. Seven plants displayed antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) from 2 to 25 microg/mL) and usually low cytotoxicity, indicating their antiplasmodial specificity. The results give scientific validation to the traditional medical knowledge of Quechua and Mestizo populations from Loreto and confirm a source of potentially active plants.
Roumy
V
V
Laboratoire Pharmacochimie des Substances Naturelles et Pharmacophores Redox, UMR 152 IRD-Université, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Toulouse, France. roumyvincent@yahoo.fr
Garcia-Pizango
G
G
Gutierrez-Choquevilca
A-L
AL
Ruiz
L
L
Jullian
V
V
Winterton
P
P
Fabre
N
N
Moulis
C
C
Valentin
A
A
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D010568:Peru; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D019371:Topography, Medical
D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D000432:Methanol