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Planta Med 2002; 68(6): 543-545
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32552
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

In Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity of Tithonia diversifolia and Identification of its Main Active Constituent: Tagitinin C

Eric Goffin1 , Eric Ziemons2 , Patrick De Mol3 , Maria do Céu de Madureira4 , Ana Paula Martins4 , Antonio Proença da Cunha4 , Geneviève Philippe1 , Monique Tits1 , Luc Angenot1 , Michel Frederich1
  • 1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Natural and Synthetic Drugs Research Center, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • 2Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • 3Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • 4Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Further Information

Publication History

September 20, 2001

December 9, 2001

Publication Date:
01 July 2002 (online)

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Abstract

The antimalarial properties of Tithonia diversifolia, an Asteraceae traditionally used to treat malaria, were investigated in vitro against three strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The ether extract from aerial parts of the plant collected in São Tomé e Príncipe, demonstrated good antiplasmodial activity (IC50 on FCA strain: 0.75 μg/ml). A bioassay guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of the known sesquiterpene lactone tagitinin C as an active component against Plasmodium (IC50 on FCA strain: 0.33 μg/ml), but also possessing cytotoxic properties (IC50 on HTC-116 cells: 0.706 μg/ml).

References

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Eric Goffin

Laboratory of Pharmacognosy

Department of Pharmacy

University of Liège

Avenue de l’Hôpital 1, B 36

B-4000 Liège

Belgium

Email: ericgoffin@hotmail.com

Fax: +32-4-3664332