Antiplasmodial, anti-complement and anti-inflammatory in vitro effects of Biophytum umbraculum Welw. traditionally used against cerebral malaria in Mali.
BACKGROUND
Biophytum umbraculum Welw. (Oxalidaceae) is a highly valued African medicinal plant used for treatment of cerebral malaria, a critical complication of falciparum malaria.


OBJECTIVE
To provide additional information about traditional use of B. umbraculum and to test plant extracts and isolated compounds for in vitro activities related to cerebral malaria.


METHODS
The traditional practitioners were questioned about indication, mode of processing/application, dosage and local name of B. umbraculum. Organic extracts and some main constituents of the plant were investigated for anti-malaria, anti-complement activity and inhibition of NO secretion in a RAW 264.7 cell line.


RESULTS
Treatment of cerebral malaria was the main use of B. umbraculum (fidelity level 56%). The ethyl acetate extract showed anti-complement activity (ICH50 5.7±1.6μg/ml), inhibition of macrophage activation (IC50 16.4±1.3μg/ml) and in vitro antiplasmodial activity (IC50 K1 5.6±0.13μg/ml, IC50 NF54 6.7±0.03μg/ml). The main constituents (flavone C-glycosides) did not contribute to the activity of the extract.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition of complement activation and anti-inflammatory activity of B. umbraculum observed in this study might be possible targets for adjunctive therapy in cerebral malaria together with its antiplasmodial activity. However, clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the activity due to the complex pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: ingvilau@farmasi.uio.no.
Ingvild
I
Austarheim
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: anhthu.pham@abbvie.com.
Anh Thu
AT
Pham
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: nguyen.celine@gmail.com.
Celine
C
Nguyen
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: yuanfengzou860315@163.com.
Yuan-Feng
YF
Zou
Department of Traditional Medicine, P.O. Box 1746, Bamako, Mali. Electronic address: dri.diallo@yahoo.fr.
Drissa
D
Diallo
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: k.e.malterud@farmasi.uio.no.
Karl Egil
KE
Malterud
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: helle.wangensteen@farmasi.uio.no.
Helle
H
Wangensteen
D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008302:Mali; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D065825:Oxalidaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
D000085:Acetates; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000962:Antimalarials; D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C007650:ethyl acetate
Anti-complement; Antiplasmodial, malaria; Biophytum umbraculum; Cerebral malaria (CM); Flavone C-glycosides