Isolation and characterization of pristimerin as the antiplasmodial and antileishmanial agent of Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell.

Abstract

Bioactivity directed fractionation of the chloroform extract of the root bark of Maytenus senegalensis resulted in the isolation and characterization of the quinonemethide triterpene, (20)-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-24-nor-friedela-1(10),3,5,7-tetraen-carboxylic acid-(29)-methylester (pristimerin). The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the isolated compound against chloroquine-resistant strain (Dd2) of Plasmodium falciparum was IC 50 = 0.5g/ml and its in vitro antileishmanial activity performed on promostigotes of Leishmania major was IC 50 = 6.8 0.8 g/ml while the cytotoxicity on lymphocyte proliferation model was detected at IC 50 = 6.8 0.8 g/ml.