Antiprotozoal activities of some constituents of Markhamia tomentosa (Bignoniaceae)

Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2010 Jul;104(5):391-8. doi: 10.1179/136485910X12743554760180.

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of an ethyl-acetate extract of the stem bark of Markhamia tomentosa (Bignoniaceae), which had good antimalarial activity in vitro, resulted in the isolation of eight known compounds: 2-acetylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (1), 2-acetyl-6-methoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (2), oleanolic acid (3), pomolic acid (4), 3-acetylpomolic acid (5), tormentic acid (6), beta-sitosterol (7) and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8). The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. Each of compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 was evaluated in vitro for its antiprotozoal activities against the ring stages of two chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum (K1 and W2), the amastigotes of Leishmania donovani, and the bloodstream trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (the species responsible for human malaria, visceral leishmaniasis and African trypanosomiasis, respectively). Although compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent antiprotozoal activities, they also showed high toxicity against a mammalian (L-6) cell line.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bignoniaceae* / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Leishmania donovani / drug effects*
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Plant Extracts