title: Antiprotozoal screening of the Cuban native plant Scutellaria havanensis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scutellaria havanensis Jacq. (Lamiaceae) is a native medicinal herb with a history of use in Cuba.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study screens the antiprotozoal activity of S. havanensis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chloroform and methanol extracts from leaves and stems were evaluated in vitro at doses between 0.015 and 200 μg/mL against protozoan parasites: Plasmodium berghei, Trichomonas vaginalis and Leishmania amazonensis. Chloroform and methanol extracts were characterized by GC/MS. Cytotoxicity against mouse peritoneal macrophages was tested in parallel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scutellaria havanensis extracts exhibited IC50values between 7.7 and 32.2 μg/mL against trophozoites of P. berghei and T. vaginalis; while the extracts were inactive against L. amazonensis promastigotes. Trichomonicidal activity of methanol extract exhibited the best selectivity but chloroform extract showed the highest antiplasmodial, trichomonicidal and cytotoxic activity. The majority of compounds in the chloroform extract were hydroxy and/or methoxyflavones (77.96%), in particular, wogonin (48.27%). In methanol extract, wogonin (5.89%) was detected. Trichomonicidal effect of wogonin was moderate (IC50=56 μM) and unspecific with respect to macrophages (SI = 2). On the contrary, antiplasmodial activity of wogonin were particularly active (IC50=15 μM) demonstrating a higher selectivity index (SI = 7.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wogonin is an active principle compound of the chloroform extract of S. havanensis against P. berghei and T. vaginalis trophozoites, whereas the methanol extract of S. havanensis should be investigated more deeply as a trichomonicide. Our findings suggest that wogonin is potentially useful for the development of antimalarial alternative treatments.
authors: a Department of Parasitology , Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí" , La Lisa , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Aymé
authors: A
authors: Fernández-Calienes Valdés
authors: a Department of Parasitology , Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí" , La Lisa , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Lianet
authors: L
authors: Monzote Fidalgo
authors: a Department of Parasitology , Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí" , La Lisa , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Idalia
authors: I
authors: Sariego Ramos
authors: b Center of Natural Products , Havana , Cuba.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Marrero Delange
authors: b Center of Natural Products , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Carmen Luisa
authors: CL
authors: Morales Rico
authors: a Department of Parasitology , Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí" , La Lisa , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Mendiola Martínez
authors: c Department of Pharmacy , Institute of Pharmacy and Foods, University of Havana , Havana , Cuba.
authors: Armando Cuéllar
authors: AC
authors: Cuéllar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003462:Cuba; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D031363:Scutellaria
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Leishmania amazonensis; Plasmodium berghei; Trichomonas vaginalis; wogonin