Isolation, characterization and antiplasmodial activity of phytochemical constituents from <i>Monanthotaxis parvifolia</i> (Oliv.) Verdc ssp. <i>kenyensis</i> Verdc

Abstract

Fractionation of the methanol extract of the leaves of Monanthotaxis parvifolia (Oliv.) Verdc ssp. kenyensis Verdc (Annonaceae) by preparative high performance liquid chromatography yielded seven fractions from which two phytochemical constituents were isolated and identified as quercetin-3-O-β-galactopyranoside (hyperoside) and quercetin-3-O-α-arabinofuranoside (avicularin) on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis and comparison with published data for the known compounds. This is the first report of the isolation of these compounds from Monanthotaxis parvifolia. Hyperoside and avicularin exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive (D10) and chloroquine resistant (Dd2) Plasmodium falciparum strains (IC₅₀ = 10.85 - 38.07 μg/ml). Hyperoside had selectivity index greater than 10 when assayed for cytotoxicity on Chinese hamster ovarian cell line.

Keywords:  Monanthotaxis parvifolia (Oliv.) Verdc ssp. kenyensis Verdc, quercetin glycosides, antiplasmodial activity, cytotoxicity