Ochora Douglas O, Murithi Caroline, Masai Rael J, Abdi Farid, Cheruyiot Agnes, Katuura Esther, Asiimwe Savina, Nabatanzi Alice, Anywar Godwin, Oryem-Origa Hannington, Namukobe Jane, Kakudidi Esezah K, Yenesew Abiy, Akala Hoseah M, Kamau Edwin
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kisii University, P.O. Box 408-40200, Kisii, Kenya; DSI/NWU, Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa; United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Walter Reed Project, P.O. Box 54-40100, Kisumu, Kenya.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 10;318(Pt B):117007. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117007. Epub 2023 Aug 6.
Malaria is among the most prevalent and devastating parasitic diseases globally with most cases reported in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the major reasons for the high malaria prevalence is the ever-increasing emergence of resistant strains of malaria-causing parasites to the currently used antimalarial drugs. This, therefore, calls for the search for antimalarial compounds with alternative modes of action. Plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria offer possible sources of such compounds. Caesalpinia decapetala has been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases including malaria. However, the antiplasmodial activity of the plant has never been reported.
To determine the ex vivo and in vitro antiplasmodial activities of the extracts of the roots, stem bark and leaves of Caesalpinia decapetala.
The roots, stem bark and leaves of Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston (Caesalpiniaceae) were collected and air-dried under a shade then extracted consecutively with dichloromethane and methanol (1:1 (v/v) (4 × 0.8 L). The extracts were tested for antiplasmodial activities against four strains of Plasmodium falciparum (W2, DD2, 3D7, and D6) and fresh P. falciparum field isolates using the SYBR green I assay. The mean fifty percent inhibition concentration (IC) was determined for each assay. An acute oral toxicity test was done based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD 425) guidelines using Swiss albino mice.
The leaves and stem bark extracts showed good antiplasmodial activities with IC values of 4.54 and 4.86 μg/mL, respectively, when tested against the fresh field isolates ex vivo. Similarly, the roots extract showed an IC value of 6.49 μg/mL when tested against field isolates ex vivo. The roots extract showed the highest antiplasmodial activities among the samples when tested against W2 (IC = 6.12 μg/mL), DD2 (IC = 8.17 μg/mL), and D6 (IC = 16.02 μg/mL) strains of P. falciparum whereas the leaves showed the highest activity (IC = 9.3 μg/mL) when tested against the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum. No mortality was observed for the mice treated with 2000 mg/kg of the leaves and stem bark extracts. The mouse treated with 2000 mg/kg of the roots extracts regained weight by day 12 of the observation period.
Caesalpinia decapetala has the potential to suppress the growth of P. falciparum thereby contributing to combating the recurrent emergence of antimalarial drug resistance.
疟疾是全球最普遍且最具毁灭性的寄生虫病之一，大多数病例报告来自撒哈拉以南非洲地区。疟疾高流行率的主要原因之一是导致疟疾的寄生虫对目前使用的抗疟药物耐药菌株不断增加。因此，这就需要寻找具有替代作用模式的抗疟化合物。传统医学中用于治疗疟疾的植物为此类化合物提供了可能的来源。十蕊苏木传统上用于治疗包括疟疾在内的各种疾病。然而，该植物的抗疟活性从未被报道过。
确定十蕊苏木根、茎皮和叶提取物的体外和体内抗疟活性。
采集十蕊苏木（豆科）的根、茎皮和叶，在阴凉处风干，然后依次用二氯甲烷和甲醇（1:1（v/v）（4×0.8L））提取。使用SYBR Green I分析法测试提取物对四种恶性疟原虫菌株（W2、DD2、3D7和D6）以及新鲜的恶性疟原虫野外分离株的抗疟活性。测定每次试验的平均半数抑制浓度（IC）。根据经济合作与发展组织（OECD 425）指南，使用瑞士白化小鼠进行急性口服毒性试验。
叶和茎皮提取物在体外对新鲜野外分离株进行测试时，显示出良好的抗疟活性，IC值分别为4.54和4.86μg/mL。同样，根提取物在体外对野外分离株进行测试时，IC值为6.49μg/mL。根提取物在对恶性疟原虫的W2（IC = 6.12μg/mL）、DD2（IC = 8.17μg/mL）和D6（IC = 16.02μg/mL）菌株进行测试时，显示出最高抗疟活性，而叶在对恶性疟原虫3D7菌株进行测试时显示出最高活性（IC = 9.3μg/mL）。用2000mg/kg叶和茎皮提取物处理的小鼠未观察到死亡。用2000mg/kg根提取物处理的小鼠在观察期第12天恢复体重。
十蕊苏木具有抑制恶性疟原虫生长的潜力，从而有助于应对抗疟药物耐药性的反复出现。
