Quassinoid constituents of Quassia amara L. leaf herbal tea. Impact on its antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our objective was to assess whether it could be contemplated to recommend Quassia amara young leaf tea for treatment against malaria, and if yes, set up a standard protocol for preparing the herbal tea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The leaf tea was extracted with methylene chloride and the organic extract was fractionated with HPLC. Pure compounds were characterized and their in vitro cytotoxicity and antiplasmodial activity was determined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We discovered that antimalarial Quassia amara young leaf tea contains several quassinoids: simalikalactone D (SkD, 1), picrasin B (2), picrasin H (3), neoquassin (4), quassin (5), picrasin I (6) and picrasin J (7). These last two compounds are new. In addition, our experiments demonstrate that both biological activity and cytotoxicity of the remedy may be attributed solely to the presence of SkD.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this preparation should not be recommended for treatment of malaria until a clinical study in humans is performed with SkD.