Leaves from the Tree Poincianella pluviosa as a Renewable Source of Antiplasmodial Compounds against Chloroquine-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Poincianella pluviosa is a tree whose stem bark is reputed to have antidiarrheal, wound healing, antitumoral and antimalarial properties. Considering that the leaves of the tree are a more abundant and renewable source than the stem bark, we chose to study the antimalarial potential of this organ part. The aqueous leaf extract exhibited a rich phenolic profile. It was active (IC 50 = 6.88 ± 1.64 µg mL -1 ) against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum (W2) without toxicity to HepG2 A16 cells. The organic fraction was more active (IC 50 = 1.83 µg mL -1 ) than the aqueous leaf extract itself. Ten phenolic compounds were obtained from the latter. This is the first report on the phenolic composition of P. pluviosa leaves. Ellagic acid (IC 50 = 0.215 ± 0.007 µg mL -1 ) proved to be 32 fold more active than the aqueous leaf extract itself. Considering their renewable aspect, leaves of P. pluviosa appear to be a more interesting source of antimalarial compounds than stem bark.Keywords: Poincianella pluviosa var. peltophoroides, leaves, ellagic acid, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum (W2) IntroductionA reduction in the incidence of tropical diseases such as malaria in poor countries is considered a major goal of the international community.1,2 In 2013, malaria was reported to be a threat to 198 million people causing 584,000 deaths in the world, mostly children under 5 years old in Africa. The impact of this disease is a major risk with the growth of world's population, mainly in regions without access to health services. The lack of sufficient financial resources and public health capacities in poor endemic countries led to the use of inefficient medicines and/or protocols resulting in an increase of mortality rate and spread of parasite resistance. 2,3 Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted by female Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. Five species of Plasmodium are able to infect humans, Plasmodium falciparum being considered the most dangerous. 4 Some clinical manifestations such as fever, chills, mild anemia and diarrheas are associated with malaria. 3,5 According to World Health Organization (WHO)-established protocols, 2 the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria involves artemisininbased combination therapy with drugs such as mefloquine, piperaquine or the sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine combination. Nowadays, antimalarial therapy in endemic regions is more difficult to manage since the parasite has become resistant to most antimalarial drugs. 3,6 The resistance to artemisinin emerged in regions where this drug was used in a monotherapy protocol. 2,7 This situation continuously stimulates the search for new antimalarial drugs, especially from natural sources. 1de Souza et al. 1319 Vol. 29, No. 6, 2018 Plants showing proven antimalarial activity still represent a promising source of new medicines. It is important to note that some antimalarial drugs such as artemisinin and quinine have plant origin. 1,6,8 Poincianella pluviosa (DC.) L. P. Queiroz ...

Evaluation of Zamia floridana A. DC. Leaves and Its Isolated Secondary Metabolites as Natural Anti-Toxoplasma and Anti-Cancer Agents Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies

“…The ESIMS of compound ( 5 ) showed a pseudo molecular ion at m / z 171.1 for [M + H] + with a molecular formula C 7 H 7 O 5 , and at m / z 169.1 for [M − H] − with a molecular formula C 7 H 5 O 5 suggesting a molecular formula for compound ( 5 ) as C 7 H 6 O 5 , which is consistent with gallic acid. All of these spectral data were identical to the previous literature of gallic acid [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. This is the first report of gallic acid from Z. floridana .…”

Isolation of Anti-Diabetic Active Compounds from Benincasae Exocarpium and Development of Simultaneous Analysis by HPLC-PDA

“…Isolated compounds 1 – 11 were identified as p -hydroxybenzoic acid ( 1 ), protocatechuic acid ( 2 ), isovanillin ( 3 ), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural ( 4 ), isovitexin ( 5 ), vitexin ( 6 ), orientin ( 7 ), gallic acid ( 8 ), caffeic acid ( 9 ), vitexin-2″- O -rhamnoside ( 10 ), and vitexin-4″- O -glucoside ( 11 ) using NMR ( 1 H and 13 C) spectroscopy and ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and through comparison with previous studies ( Supplementary Materials, Figures S1–S33 ) [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”