In Vitro anti-malarial activity of limonoids from two meliacious plants

Abstract

Four limonoids, atomasin A 1, atomasin B 2, entilin A 3 and entilin B 4 from Entandrophragma candollei and Entandrophragma utile (Meliaceae) were tested for in vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine–resistant W2 strain. Three limonoids (1, 3, 4) were moderately active with IC50 values between 11.6 and 28.2 µg/mL. atomasin B was devoid of activity. The in vitro activities of the compounds were further analysed using fresh isolates of P. falciparum among which three were chloroquine–resistant. The comparison of the mean IC50 values of atomasin A and entilin B did show any significant difference between chloroquine-resistant and –sensitive isolates.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; Antimalarial activity; Meliaceae; Limonoids; Entandrophragma candollei; Entandrophragma utile.

West African Journal of Pharmacology and Drug Research Vol. 21 (1&2) 2005: pp. 39-42