Aims: To investigate the in vitro antiviral activity of Distictella elongata (Vahl) Urb. ethanol extracts from leaves (LEE), fruits (FEE), stems and their main components. Methods and Results: The antiviral activity was evaluated against human herpesvirus type 1 (HSV-1), murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), vaccinia virus Western Reserve (VACV-WR) and dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. LEE presented anti-HSV-1 [EC 50 142AE8 ± 5AE3 lg ml )1 ; selectivity index (SI) 2AE0] and anti-DENV-2 activity (EC 50 9AE8 ± 1AE3 lg ml )1 ; SI 1AE5). The pectolinarin (1) isolated from LEE was less active against HSV-1 and DENV-2. A mixture of the triterpenoids ursolic, pomolic and oleanolic acids was also obtained. Ursolic and oleanolic acids have shown antiviral activity against HSV-1. A mixture of pectolinarin (1) and acacetin-7-O-rutinoside (2) was isolated from FEE and has presented anti-DENV-2 activity (EC 50 11AE1 ± 1AE6 lg ml )1 ; SI > 45). Besides the antiviral activity, D. elongata has disclosed antioxidant effect. Conclusions: These data shows that D. elongata has antiviral activity mainly against HSV-1 and DENV-2, besides antioxidant activity. These effects might be principally attributed to flavonoids isolated. Significance and Impact of the Study: Distictella elongata might be considered a promising source of anti-dengue fever phytochemicals.Letters in Applied Microbiology ISSN 0266-8254

Sida pilosa Retz. (Malvaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Africa for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, lower abdominal pains and intestinal helminthiasis. S. pilosa aqueous extract and derived fractions were investigated for their bioactivity against Schistosoma mansoni. The aqueous extract from S. pilosa aerial parts (1.25-40 mg/mL) and derived fractions (n-hexane, DCM, EtOAc and n-BuOH: 0.25-8 mg/mL) were tested on adult S. mansoni maintained in a GMEN culture medium. Praziquantel was used as the reference drug. After 24 h of incubation, worms were monitored for their viability and egg output. The antioxidant activity of S. pilosa was evaluated by the ability to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals. The chemical composition of the n-BuOH fraction was investigated by HPLC-MS analysis. S. pilosa aqueous extract and fractions significantly increased worm mortality in a concentration-dependent manner. The n-BuOH fraction was the most active with a LC50 of 1.25 mg/mL. Significant reduction of motor activity (25% to 100%) was * Corresponding author. H. B. Jatsa et al. 381 recorded for surviving worms incubated in different concentrations of the extract and fractions. Incubation of S. mansoni in different concentrations of S. pilosa extract and fractions led to significant reduction of egg laying (52% to 100%). The aqueous extract and derived fractions exhibited antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest antioxidant activity was found with the EtOAc fraction, followed by the DCM and n-BuOH fractions. HPLC-MS analysis of the n-butanol fraction revealed the presence of two indoloquinoline alkaloids. This study disclosed the schistosomicidal activity of the n-butanol fraction from S. pilosa aqueous extract. This activity is probably related to the indoloquinoline alkaloids identified in the fraction.

Pectolinarin, a flavone heteroside, was isolated from Distictella elongata (Vahl) Urb. leaves ethanol extract, along with a mixture of ursolic, pomolic and oleanolic acids, besides β-sitosterol. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral analysis ( 1 H and 13 C NMR, 1 D and 2 D) and they were compared with literature. This is the first report on the occurrence of this flavonoid in a species of the Bignoniaceae family.