Anti-Plasmodium falciparum Activity of Extracts from 10 Cameroonian Medicinal Plants.

Toghueo Rufin Marie,Cedric Jiatsa Mbouna,Heroine Mbetyoumoun Mfouapon,Dinkar Sahal,Fabrice Fekam Boyom,Patrick Tsouh Fokou,Eugenie Madiesse Kemgne

doi:10.3390/medicines5040115

Toghueo Rufin Marie, Cedric Jiatsa Mbouna + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5040115

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Abstract

Background: In the midst of transient victories by way of insecticides against mosquitoes or drugs against malaria, the most serious form of malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, continues to be a major public health problem. The emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites facilitated by fake medications or the use of single drugs has worsened the situation, thereby emphasizing the need for a continued search for potent, safe, and affordable new antimalarial treatments. In line with this need, we have investigated the antiplasmodial activity of 66 different extracts prepared from 10 different medicinal plants that are native to Cameroon. Methods: Extracts were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the growth of the chloroquine-sensitive (Pf3D7) and resistant (PfINDO) strains of P. falciparum using the SYBR green fluorescence method. The cytotoxicity of promising extracts against human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) mammalian cells was assessed by MTT assay. Results: The antiplasmodial activity (50% inhibitory concentration, IC50) of plant extracts ranged from 1.90 to >100 μg/mL against the two strains. Six extracts exhibited good activity against both Pf3D7 and PfINDO strains, including cold water, water decoction, and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves of Drypetes principum (Müll.Arg.) Hutch. (IC503D7/INDO = 4.91/6.64 μg/mL, 5.49/5.98 μg/mL, and 6.49/7.10 μg/mL respectively), water decoction extract of leaves of Terminalia catappa L. (IC503D7/INDO = 6.41/8.10 μg/mL), and water decoction extracts of leaves and bark of Terminalia mantaly H.Perrier (IC503D7/INDO = 2.49/1.90 μg/mL and 3.70/2.80 μg/mL respectively). These promising extracts showed no cytotoxicity against HEK293T up to 200 μg/mL, giving selectivity indices (SIs) in the range of >31.20–80.32. Conclusions: While providing credence to the use of D. principum, T. catappa, and T. mantaly in the traditional treatment of malaria, the results achieved set the stage for isolation and identification of active principles and ancillary molecules that may provide us with new drugs or drug combinations to fight against drug-resistant malaria.

Highlights

Malaria is one of the world’s most severe and deadly infectious diseases, and primarily affects the most disadvantaged populations
The present paper reports the antiplasmodial potential of extracts from nine medicinal plants (Alchornea lacifolia Sw., Annona senegalensis Pers., Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson, Occimum gratissimum L., Senna alata (L.) Roxb., Terminalia catappa L., Terminalia mantaly H.Perrier, Ficus benjamina L. and Ficus exasperata Vahl) traditionally used for the treatment of malaria or associated symptoms in Cameroon [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22] and one (Drypetes principum (Müll.Arg.) Hutch.) with no previous reports
Plant materials were harvested in Cameroon and identified as Alchornea latifolia, Annona senegalensis, Cananga odorata, Senna alata, Drypetes principum, Ficus benjamina, Ficus exasperata, Occimum gratissimum, Terminalia catappa, and Terminalia mantaly through the National Herbarium of Cameroon, Yaoundé, where voucher specimens have been deposited under specific reference numbers

Summary

Introduction

Malaria is one of the world’s most severe and deadly infectious diseases, and primarily affects the most disadvantaged populations. Effective eradication strategies have been elusive, primarily owing to the complex life cycle of Plasmodium and the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal Plasmodium species in humans [4,5,6] Against this background and in the absence of any credible vaccine, there is urgent need to discover new, potent, safe, and affordable drugs to combat malaria. The emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites facilitated by fake medications or the use of single drugs has worsened the situation, thereby emphasizing the need for a continued search for potent, safe, and affordable new antimalarial treatments In line with this need, we have investigated the antiplasmodial activity of 66 different extracts prepared from 10 different medicinal plants that are native to Cameroon.

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