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Planta Med 2004; 70(8): 706-710
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-827199
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anthranoid Compounds with Antiprotozoal Activity from Vismia orientalis

Zakaria H. Mbwambo1 , Sandra Apers2 , Mainen J. Moshi1 , Modest C. Kapingu1 , Sabine Van Miert2 , Magda Claeys2 , Reto Brun3 , Paul Cos2 , Luc Pieters2 , Arnold Vlietinck2
  • 1Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
  • 3Parasite Chemotherapy, Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 5, 2004

Accepted: May 15, 2004

Publication Date:
24 August 2004 (online)

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Abstract

A phytochemical investigation of the 80% ethanolic extract of stem bark of Vismia orientalis Engl. (Guttiferae or Clusiaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine in Tanzania, resulted in the isolation and spectroscopic characterisation of 3-geranyloxy-6-methyl-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone, emodin, vismione D and bianthrone A1. Vismione D exhibited a broad range of antiprotozoal activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and T. cruzi (IC50 < 10 μg/mL), Leishmania donovani (IC50 0.37 μg/mL) and Plasmodium falciparum strain K1 (IC50 1.0 μg/mL). However, it was also slightly cytotoxic against human L6 cells (IC50 4.1 μg/mL). Emodin showed antileishmanial activity (IC50 2.0 μg/mL), while its IC50 against L6 cells was 20.3 μg/mL. Other antiprotozoal activities observed for emodin against both Trypanosoma species and P. falciparum, for bianthrone A1 against T. b. rhodesiense and P. falciparum, and for 3-geranyloxy-6-methyl-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone against T. b. rhodesiense, L. donovani and P. falciparum were in the range of 10 to 50 μg/mL. None of the compounds showed antibacterial or antiviral (including also HIV) activity.

Key words

Vismia orientalis - Guttiferae - Clusiaceae - 3-geranyloxy-6-methyl-1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone - bianthrone A1 - emodin - vismione D - Plasmodium falciparum - Leishmania - Trypanosoma

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Zakaria H. Mbwambo

Institute of Traditional Medicine

Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences

P. O. Box 65001

Dar es Salaam

Tanzania

Email: zmbwambo@muchs.ac.tz