Evaluation of French Guiana traditional antimalarial remedies

Zanthoxylum Genus as Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds

“…Three of the seven isolated compounds from alkaloidal fraction displayed antiplasmodial activity, ranging from good (nitidine, the most potent compound) to moderate (avicine and fagaridine) (Jullian et al, 2006). In other research of the antiplasmodial activity of Z. rhoifolium was determined that the water infusion from bark inhibited more than 50% the P. falciparum development with doses higher than 500 mg/kg (Bertani et al, 2005).…”

“…The bark of Z. liebmannianum, is used in Mexico for the treatment of stomach pains, amebiasis, intestinal parasites and as a local anesthetic agent (Ross et al, 2004). Some species are used for the treatment of malaria, such is the case of Z. rhoifolium (Jullian et al, 2006;Bertani et al, 2005), Z. acutifolium (Arruda et al, 1992), Z. chalybeum (Jullian et al, 2006) and Z. usambarense (Kirira et al, 2006). Venezuelan traditional medicine is known to use Z. monophyllum in the treatment of runny nose or nasal mucosal inflammation, jaundice, ophthalmia and as an anesthetic (Gomez et al, 2007;Diaz & Ortega, 2006).…”

Quantification of Antimalarial Quassinoids Neosergeolide and Isobrucein B in Stem and Root Infusions of Picrolemma sprucei Hook F. by HPLC-UV Analysis

“…It is known in the Amazon region by common names which call attention to its resemblance to the coffee plant: sachacafé in Peru (Duke & Vasquéz 1994), caferana in Brazil (Silva et al 1977) and café lane or tuukamwi in French Guiana (Grenand et al 1987). Infusions of roots, stems, and leaves of P. sprucei are traditionally used in different dosages and preparations for the treatment of www.intechopen.com malaria fevers (Bertani et al 2005, Vigneron et al 2005, Milliken 1997), gastrointestinal problems and intestinal worms (Moretti et al 1982, Duke & Vasquéz 1994. Also, the sale of this plant is sometimes restricted by local vendors due to its use in provoking spontaneous abortions.…”

“…Bertani et al (2005) reported that a P. sprucei leaf infusion inhibited 78 % of Plasmodium yoelli rodent malaria growth in vivo at a dosage of 95 mg/kg. Furthermore, these same authors reported that of a total of 36 preparations from 25 traditionally used antimalarial plants from French Guiana, P. sprucei leaf infusion had the greatest in vitro activity against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (median inhibition concentration, IC 50 =1.43 μg.mL -1 ).…”

“…Additionally, isobrucein B has been shown to have important antileukemic, antifeedant and leishmanicidal (Moretti et al 1982;Nunomura, 2006). Bertani et al (2005) conveyed concern about the toxicity of infusions and other preparations based on different parts of P. sprucei which is recognized in Amazonian traditional medicine in general. Additionally, these authors were critical of the absence of knowledge of the toxicity of infusions prepared from this species and lack of information available on the www.intechopen.com quassinoid composition of these infusions in the study on toxicity published by Fandeur et al (1985), which focused only on the acute toxicity and antimalarial activity of isolated quassinoid components o P. sprucei and not on toxicity and antimalarial activity of infusions.…”