Phytochemical screening, antiplasmodial activity against multi-drug resistant parasites, cytotoxicity and antioxidant profiling of extracts from Fagara macrophylla and Eremomastax speciosa

Clautilde Teugwa Mofor Clautilde Teugwa Mofor; Denis Zofou Denis Zofou; Liliane Nangmo Liliane Nangmo; Fabrice F. Boyom Fabrice F. Boyom; Elie Fokou Elie Fokou; Vincent P.K. Titanji Vincent P.K. Titanji; Paul Henri Amvam-Zollo Paul Henri Amvam-Zollo

Clautilde Teugwa Mofor Laboratory of Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box: 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Denis Zofou Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
Liliane Nangmo Laboratory of Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box: 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Fabrice F. Boyom Antimicrobial & Biocontrol Agents Unit, Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon
Elie Fokou Laboratory of Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box: 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Vincent P.K. Titanji Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
Paul Henri Amvam-Zollo Rector Office, University of Ngaoundere, Adamaoua Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Objective: The continuous spread of drug-resistance underlies the urgent need for new drugs against this disease. Considering the serious implications of oxidative stress in the malaria pathology, the present work was prompted, aiming at investigating the antioxidant and anti-plasmodial activity of Fagara macrophylla (Rutaceae) and Eremomastax speciosa (Acanthaceae), two Cameroonian medicinal plants popularly employed in handling malaria and several degenerative diseases. Methods: The anti-plasmodial activity was assessed using the semi-automated method of Desjardins with the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay (pLDH) as parasite quantification system, whereas the cytotoxicity was assessed on the monkey kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-MK2) using the MTT - ELISA assy. The antioxidant evaluation was done using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) for free radical-scavenging properties of the extracts and the Folin-Ciocalteu method in determining their phenol contents. The phytochemical screening of both extracts was equally conducted using standard methods. Results: The results revealed a wide range of anti-plasmodial activity in both plants, with the hexane extract of F. macrophylla stem bark showing the highest activity (IC50 = 4.94 μg/mL), followed by the methanol extract of E. speciosa leaf (IC50 = 8.85 μg/mL). More interestingly all the extracts with significant antimalarial activities did not exhibit any sign of cytotoxicity on monkey kidney cells even at 500 μg/mL. Extracts from both plants exhibited significant antioxidant properties as illustrated by their high phenols contents and scavenging activities. Conclusion: A diversity of chemical families was detected from these extracts, indicating that F. macrophylla and E. speciosa could serve as good starting point for the development of new phytomedicines and/or drug molecules against malaria and degenerative diseases.
Keywords: , ,, ,

Keywords: Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Fagara macrophylla, Eremomastax speciosa

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