title: Anti-plasmodial activity of Ailanthus excelsa.
abstract: The anti-plasmodial activity of Ailanthus excelsa stem bark was investigated. The methanolic extract inhibited in vitro growth of chloroquine-sensitive (D10) and resistant strains (W2) of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 4.6 and 2.8 microg/ml, respectively). The effect was retained in the chloroform fraction (3.1 and 2.1 microg/ml, respectively). The anti-plasmodial activity could be ascribed to the impairment of haemoglobin degradation through the inhibition of plasmepsin II activity (IC50 of 13.43+/-1.74 microg/ml) and of the haem detoxification to haemozoin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. mario.dellagli@unimi.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'Agli
authors.forename: Germana V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parapini
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basilico
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taramelli
authors.forename: Ataa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosisio
mesh_terms: D032268:Ailanthus; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002738:Chloroquine; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins
chemical_list: D006420:Hemeproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C020753:hemozoin; D002738:Chloroquine; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C089643:plasmepsin; C100637:plasmepsin II