title: Medicinal plants from the Yanesha (Peru): evaluation of the leishmanicidal and antimalarial activity of selected extracts.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: IFEA UMIFRE 17 CNRS/MAEE, Casilla 18-1217, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valadeau
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pabon
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deharo
authors.forename: Joaquina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albán-Castillo
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Estevez
authors.forename: Fransis Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lores
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Dionicia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauvain
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bourdy
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents