Medicinal plants from the Yanesha (Peru): evaluation of the leishmanicidal and antimalarial activity of selected extracts.
OBJECTIVE
Ninety-four ethanolic extracts of plants used medicinally by the Yanesha, an Amazonian Peruvian ethnic group, for affections related to leishmaniasis and malaria were screened in vitro against Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes and against a Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant strain.


METHODS
The viability of Leishmania amazonensis amastigote stages was assessed by the reduction of tetrazolium salt (MTT) while the impact on Plasmodium falciparum was determined by measuring the incorporation of radio-labelled hypoxanthine.


CONCLUSIONS
Six plant species displayed good activity against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant strain (IC(50) < 10 microg/ml): a Monimiaceae, Siparuna aspera (Ruiz & Pavon), A. DC., two Zingiberaceae, Renealmia thyrsoidea (Ruiz & Pavon) Poepp. & Endl. and Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.), two Piperaceae (Piper aduncum L. and Piper sp.) and the leaves of Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don (Bignoniaceae). Eight species displayed interesting leishmanicidal activities (IC50 < 10 microg/ml): Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Piper dennisii Trel (Piperaceae), Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae), Cestrum racemosum Ruiz & Pav. (Solanaceae), Renealmia alpinia (Rottb.) Zingiberaceae, Lantana sp. (Verbenaceae), Hyptis lacustris A. St.-Hil. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae) and Calea montana Klat. (Asteraceae). Most of them are used against skin affections by Yanesha people. Results are discussed herein, according to the traditional use of the plants and compared with data obtained from the literature.
Valadeau
Céline
C
IFEA UMIFRE 17 CNRS/MAEE, Casilla 18-1217, Lima, Peru.
Pabon
Adriana
A
Deharo
Eric
E
Albán-Castillo
Joaquina
J
Estevez
Yannick
Y
Lores
Fransis Augusto
FA
Rojas
Rosario
R
Gamboa
Dionicia
D
Sauvain
Michel
M
Castillo
Denis
D
Bourdy
Geneviève
G
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010568:Peru; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents