Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3839

Full Length Research Paper

Antiprotozoal activity and cytotoxicity of metabolites from leaves of Teclea trichocarpa

E. S. K. Mwangi1, J. M. Keriko1, A. K. Machocho2, A. W. Wanyonyi2, H. M. Malebo2, S. C. Chhabra2* and P. K. Tarus3
1Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P. O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya. 2Department of Chemistry, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya. 3Department of Physical Science (Chemistry), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 190 - 50100 Kakamega, Kenya.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 05 January 2010
  •  Published: 04 May 2010

Abstract

Chromatographic separation of the leaves of Teclea trichocarpa (Engl.) Engl. (Rutaceae) used traditionally by Akamba tribe in Kenya yielded three acridone alkaloids, a furoquinoline alkaloid and two triterpenoids. The total extract (methanol) of the leaves of this plant and the isolated compounds were screened for in vitro for cytotoxicity and against parasitic protozoa, Plasmodium falciparumTrypanosoma brucei rhodesienseTrypanosoma cruzi andLeishmania donovani. Among the compounds a-amyrin had the best anti-plasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.96 mg/ml), normelicopicine and skimmianine had the best anti-trypanosomal activity against T. b. rhodesiense (IC50 = 5.24 mg/ml) andT. cruzi (IC50 = 14.50 mg/ml), respectively. Normelicopicine also exhibited best anti-leishmanial activity (IC50 = 1.08 mg/ml). Arborinine exhibited moderate cytotoxicity (IC50 = 12.2 mg/ml) against L-6 cells. The compounds with low anti-protozoal and high cytotoxicity IC50 values are potential source of template drug against parasitic protozoa.

 

Key words: Cytotoxicity, Teclea trichocarpa, protozoa, alkaloids.