title: The antiplasmodial activity of spermine alkaloids isolated from Albizia gummifera.
abstract: In the present study the methanolic extract of Albizia gummifera was fractionated into various fractions. These fractions were tested against choroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (ENT30) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. All other fractions apart from the alkaloidal fraction showed low activity with IC 50 above 3 microg/ml. The alkaloidal fraction exhibited strong activity against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 of 0.16+/-0.05 and 0.99+/-0.06 microg/ml, respectively. Five known spermine alkaloids were isolated from the alkaloidal fraction. These alkaloids exhibited activities against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 ranging from 0.09+/-0.02 to 0.91+/-0.10 microg/ml. Four of the alkaloids were further evaluated for in vivo activity against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The alkaloids showed percentage chemosuppression of parasitaemia in mice ranging from 43 to 72%. The use of the extracts A. gummifera for treatment of malaria in traditional medicine seems to have a scientific basis.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO BOX 54840, Nairobi, Kenya. grukunga@memri.org
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rukunga
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Muregi
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Tolo
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mwitari
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Muthaura
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Omlin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lwande
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassanali
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Githure
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Iraqi
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mungai
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kofi-Tsekpo
mesh_terms: D031289:Albizzia; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D018547:Plant Stems; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D013096:Spermine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013096:Spermine