Scientific publications
Kevine Johane Jumeta Dongmo
Mariscal Brice Tchatat Tali
Pierre Leonel K. Tafokeu Taguimjeu
Donald Ulrich Kenou Kagho
Bruno Ndjakou Lenta
Fabrice Fekam Boyom
Yannick Stéphane Fotsing Fongang* (Corresponding author)
Gabin Thierry M. Bitchagno
Norbert Sewald
Research Square
Abstract Background Dacryodes edulis is a plant that belongs to the Burseraceae family. It is widely used traditionally alone or in association with other plants in Cameroonian folk medicine to cure wounds, fever, headaches, and malaria. The aim of this work was to investigate the leaves and stem bark of D. edulis with an emphasis on the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic effects on extracts, fractions and isolated compounds. Methods Extracts, fractions, and some isolated compounds were subjected to antiplasmodial activity screening in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 and multidrug resistant Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum using a SyBr Green fluorescence-based assay. The cytotoxicity of active extracts, fractions, and compounds was tested against mammalian Raw cell lines using an in vitro resazurin-based viability assay. The structures of the compounds were determined based on their NMR and MS data. The in vivo toxicity using female BALB/c mice was performed on the most active extract according to the protocol of OECD (2001), guideline 423. Results The hydroethanolic extract from the leaves of D. edulis displayed good antiplasmodial activity with IC 50 values of 3.10 and 3.56 µ g/mL respectively on sensitive (3D7) and multiresistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum . Of the sixteen compounds isolated, 3,3′,4-tri- O -methylellagic acid ( 4 ) exhibited the highest antiplasmodial activity against Pf Dd2 strains with an IC 50 value of 0.63 µg/mL. All extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds demonstrated cytotoxicity against Raw cell lines with CC 50 > 250 µ g/mL. In addition, the most active extract on both strains of P. falciparum was nontoxic in vivo , with an LD 50 greater than 2000 and 5000 mg/kg. A phytochemical survey of the stem bark and leaves of D. edulis afforded sixteen compounds, including two xanthones ( 1 – 2 ), three ellagic acid derivatives ( 3 – 5 ), one phenolic compound ( 6 ), one depside ( 7 ), one triglyceride ( 8 ), one auranthiamide acetate ( 9 ), one gallic acid derivative ( 10 ), four triterpenoids ( 11 – 14 ), and two steroids ( 15 – 16 ). Compounds 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 , and 9 were herein reported for the first time from the Burseraceae family. Conclusion This work highlight the good antiplasmodial potency of the hydroethanolic extract of the leaves of this plant and the antiplasmodial activity of 2 of its constituents (3,3′,4-tri- O -methylellagic acid and ethylgallate) in vitro . These biological results confirmed the use of D. edulis in traditional medicine against malaria.
