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In vitro antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial and cytotoxic properties of the ethanol stem bark extract of Trichilia monadelpha (Thonn.) JJ De Wild (Meliaceae)


Papy Kunyima wa Kunyima
Ulrich Maloueki
Jerry Yana Liwono
Désiré Musuyu Muganza

Abstract

In the course of our studies on the valorization of plants used by the Nkundo people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we have carried out the  present work to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and antiprotozoal activities of Trichilia monadelpha. Ethanolic stem bark extract was evaluated for the ex  vivo antiplasmodial activity on clinical strains of Plasmodium falciparum as well as the in vitro antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei,  Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum, and the chloroquine and pyrimethamineresistant K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The test of cytotoxicity  against MRC-5 cells was included to assess selectivity of activity. In addition, we carried out evaluation of the antioxidant potential using 1,1- diphenyl-  2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The tested extract showed weak antioxidant potential (IC50 > 500 μg/mL). It exhibited potent ex vivo  activity (IC50 < 1  µg/mL) against P. falciparum but low in vitro activity (IC50 20-40 μg/mL, selectivity index 2.26) against T.b. brucei and inactivity (IC50 > 40  μg/mL) against  the other tested protozoa. The extract was devoid of cytotoxicity (CC50 > 64 μg/mL). These findings may support at least in part the traditional use of this  plant species against malaria  


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eISSN: 1997-342X
print ISSN: 1991-8631