title: Phytochemical and antitrypanosomal investigation of the fractions and compounds isolated from Artemisia elegantissima.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T.b. brucei) infection causes death in cattle, while the current treatments have serious toxicity problems. However, natural products can be used to overcome the problems associated with parasitic diseases including T.b. brucei.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Artemisia elegantissima Pamp (Asteraceae) was evaluated phytochemically for its constituents and antitrypanosomal potential against T.b. brucei for the first time. Scopoletin isolated from A. elegantissima has shown better potential then the standard drug suramin, used against T.b. brucei.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanol extract of the aerial parts of A. elegantissima was fractionated by column and preparative thin-layer chromatography into six fractions (A-F) yielding 13 compounds, these were evaluated for their antitrypanosomal activity against T.b. brucei at different concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen compounds were isolated from A. elegantissima: (Z)-p-hydroxy cinnamic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, betulinic acid, bis-dracunculin, dracunculin, scopoletin, apigenin, dihydroluteolin, scoparol, nepetin, bonanzin, and 3',4'-dihydroxy bonanzin. The fractions D-F were found to be active at the concentration of 20 µg/ml and three compounds isolated from these fractions, scopoletin (MIC ≤0.19 µg/ml), 3',4'-dihydroxy bonanzin (MIC = 6.25 µg/ml) and bonanzin (MIC = 20 µg/ml), were found to be highly active.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Artemisia elegantissima was phytochemically and biologically explored for its antitrypanosomal potential against T.b. brucei. The number and orientation of phenolic hydroxyl groups play an important role in the antitrypanosomal potential of coumarins and flavonoids. The compounds 3',4'-dihydroxy bonanzin and scopoletin with low MIC values, hold potential for use as antitrypanosomal drug leads.
authors.affiliation: Phytopharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Research Laboratories (PNRL), Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar , Peshawar , Pakistan .
authors.lastname: Mamoon-Ur-Rashid
authors.forename: Saqib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alamzeb
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Igoli
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Syed Qaiser
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Alexander Irvine
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Muhammad Rafiullah
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents
keywords: 3′; 4′-dihydroxy bonanzin; A. elegantissima; T.b. brucei; antitrypanosomal; dihydroluteolin; phytochemical; scopoletin