Isovitexin, the main phytoconstituent of Anthocleista djalonensis, may be responsible for the plant's antimalarial properties

Abstract

Several studies have reported on the antimalarial properties of Anthoclestia djalonensis. This study was therefore conducted to validate this report and identify the phytocomponents of the plant that might be responsible for its antimalarial activity. The crude methanol extract of the plant was fractionated into ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions using the liquid-liquid fractionation method. After a 5-day curative study, the plant's crude extract and fractions at 200 mg/kg showed varying levels of antimalarial properties, with the n-butanol fraction showing the highest parasite clearance (86.8%), followed by the crude extract (77.3%), and the ethyl acetate fraction (49.32%). HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions revealed isovitexin and its derivative as the plant's major phytoconstituents, and these compounds may be responsible for the plant's antimalarial property.