Planta Med 2006; 72(8): 751-753
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931581
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antiamoebic Activity of Iridoids from Morinda morindoides Leaves

Kanyanga Cimanga1 , Kabangu Kambu2 , Lutete Tona2 , Nina Hermans1 , Sandra Apers1 , Jozef Totté1 , Luc Pieters1 , Arnold J. Vlietinck1
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  • 2Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 16, 2006

Accepted: February 14, 2006

Publication Date:
29 May 2006 (online)

Abstract

An aqueous decoction (dried extract), an 80 % methanolic extract from Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) leaves, and five iridoids isolated from the 80 % methanolic extract were evaluated in vitro for their activity against Entamoeba histolytica and their cytotoxicity. The aqueous decoction and the 80 % methanolic extract exhibited a promising antiamoebic activity with IC50 values of 3.1 ± 1.7 and 1.7 ± 0.6 μg/mL, respectively. All tested iridoids displayed antiamoebic activity, the most active being epoxygaertneroside (IC50: 1.3 ± 0.4 μg/mL) and methoxygaertneroside (IC50: 2.3 ± 0.7 μg/mL) followed by gaertneroside, acetylgaertneroside and gaertneric acid with IC50 values of 4.3 ± 1.8, 5.4 ± 1.4 and 7.1 ± 1.4 μg/mL, respectively. Synergistic effects between the iridoids tested, or with other constituents, may explain the high activity of the extracts. All extracts and iridoids were devoid of any cytotoxic effect against MT-4 cells at the highest test concentration of 250 μg/mL. These findings support at least in part the traditional use of Morinda morindoides leaves for the treatment of amoebiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Kanyanga Cimanga

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Antwerp

Universiteitsplein 1

2610 Antwerp

Belgium

Phone: +32-3-820-2647

Fax: +32-3-820-2709

Email: kanyanga.cimanga@ua.ac.be