In Vitro Antiprotozoal and Cytotoxic Activity of the Aqueous Extract, the 80% Methanol Extract and Its Fractions from the Seeds of Brucea sumatrana Roxb. (Simaroubaceae) Growing in Democratic Republic of Congo

Michel Tshodi Ehata, Adelard Mbenza Phuati, Stanislas Nsaka Lumpu, Cyprien Kikweta Munduki, Donatien Bakana Phongi, Gaston Tona Lutete, Oscar Kambu Kabangu, Richard Cimanga Kanyanga, Ann Matheeussen, Paul Cos, Sandra Apers, Luc Pieters, Louis Maes, Arnold J. Vlietinck

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

DOI: 10.4236/cm.2012.31011                

Abstract

The in vitro antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activity of the aqueous extract, the 80% methanol extract, and its different soluble fractions and subfractions from Brucea sumatrana seeds were assessed against two Trypanosoma (T. cruzi and T. brucei brucei), Leishmania infantum and chloroquine and pyrimethanine-resistant K1strain of P. falciparum and against MRC-5 cell-lines respectively. Results indicated that the 80% methanol extract showed a cytotoxic effect against MRC-5 cell lines with CC₅₀ value of 0.54 μg/ml. It however exhibited pronounced and non selective activity against T. cruzi (IC₅₀ = 1.52 μg/ml, SI = 0.03) and L. infantum (IC₅₀ = 2.41 μg/ml, SI = 0.22). It however displayed pronounced and selective effect against T. brucei brucei (IC₅₀ < 0.25, SI > 2.16) and chloroquine and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum (IC₅₀ < 0.25 μg/ml, SI > 2.16). All soluble fractions and subfractions from the partition of the 80% methanol extract were found to exhibit an antiprotozoal activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from <0.25 to 30 μg/ml. The most active was the alkaline aqueous soluble fraction exhibiting pronounced antiprotozoal activity against T .cruzi, T. b. brucei, L. infantum and chloroquine and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 0.33, <0.25, 0.25, <0.25 μg/ml respectively resulting in high selective index values of 61.36, > 81, 81 and >81 respectively. The chloroform soluble fraction rich in alkaloid was cytotoxic against MRC-5 cell lines (CC₅₀ = 27.09 μg/ml) and showed good activity against T. b. brucei (IC₅₀ = 8.36 and SI = 3.24) and moderate activity against T. cruzi, L. infantum and chloroquine-pyrimethane-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum (20 < IC₅₀ < 30 μg/ml). Although the aqueous extract (decoction) and the total alkaloids extract showed a cytotoxic effect against MRC-5 cell lines (CC₅₀ = 1.55 and 0.43 μg/ml respectively), they however displayed pronounced antiprotozoal activity against T. cruzi, T. b. brucei and chloroquine and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum with IC₅₀ values ranging from < 0.25 to 0.6 μg/ml with only a selective action against chloroquine and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum (SI = >6.2 and >1.72 respectively). These extracts however showed good and low activity respectively against L. infantum (IC₅₀ = 24.05 and 6.82 μg/ml respectively).

Keywords

Brucea sumatrana; Simaroubaceae; Seeds; Antiprotozoal Activity; Cytotoxicity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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