title: In vitro antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activity of plants used in Benin in traditional medicine and bio-guided fractionation of the most active extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activity of crude extracts of 10 plant species traditionally used in Benin to treat parasitic infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each species, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts were tested. Their antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activities were evaluated in vitro on Trypanosoma brucei brucei (strain 427) (Tbb) and on promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana mexicana (MHOM/BZ/84/BEL46) (Lmm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best growth inhibition was observed with the dichloromethane extracts of aerial parts of Acanthospermum hispidum DC. (Asteraceae) (IC(50)=14.5 μg/ml on Tbb and 11.1 μg/ml on Lmm), twigs of Keetia leucantha (K. Krause) Bridson (syn. Plectronia leucantha Krause) (IC(50)=5.8 μg/ml on Tbb), aerial parts of Byrsocarpus coccineus Schumach. & Thonn (syn. Rourea coccinea (Schumach. & Thonn.) Hook.f.) (IC(50)=14.7 μg/ml on Tbb) and aerial parts of Carpolobia lutea G.Don. (IC(50)=18.3 μg/ml on Tbb). All these extracts had a low cytotoxicity. It is not the case for the methanolic and water extracts of roots of Anchomanes difformis (Blume) Engl. (IC(50)=14.7 and 13.8 μg/ml on Tbb) which were toxic at the same concentration range on WI38, human cells. A bio-guided fractionation of the most active extract of Keetia leucantha allowed to identify oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as responsible for the observed activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study gives some justification for antiparasitic activity of some investigated plants.
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Pharmacognosy Research Group, Avenue E. Mounier, 72, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. joanne.bero@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bero
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hannaert
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chataigné
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hérent
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quetin-Leclercq
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001541:Benin; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents