Antiplasmodial activity of New Caledonia and Vanuatu traditional medicines

2011

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000288758100006

Hnawia E., Hassani L., Deharo Eric, Chevalley Séverine, Waikedre Jean, Cabalion Pierre, Bourdy Geneviève, Valentin A., Jullian Valérie, Fogliani B.

Pharmaceutical Biology, 2011, 49 (4), p. 369-376 ISSN 1388-0209

Objective: The aim of this research work is to select plants used in Melanesian traditional medicine, in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, which should be a promising source for the isolation of new antimalarial drugs. Materials and methods: Forty-seven plant extracts belonging to 12 families, traditionally used by the Melanesian people or belonging to an antimalarial known genus, were screened in vitro for antimalarial activity on Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ)-resistant (FcB1) and CQ-sensitive (HB3) strains. They were also tested for their inhibitory effects on a protein kinase (Pfnek) and their cytotoxicity on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cells. Results: Among all extracts, four displayed strong in vitro activities against P. falciparum: Gardenia urvillei Montrouzier, Scleria polycarpa Boeckeler, Terminalia catappa L. and Acronychia laevis J.R. & J.G. Forster, the latter being also toxic on MCF7 cells. Except for the extracts of S. polycarpa, all others that were active on P. falciparum, also possess an inhibitory effect on Pfnek. Discussion and conclusion: These results confirm that ethnopharmacology is an excellent approach for such investigations. The two countries considered clearly present advantages in the field. Indeed, local populations keep their traditional knowledge alive, and their flora is exceptionally rich. In New Caledonia, the high endemicity rate (74%) ranks the island as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. As a consequence, chances to discover new active natural compounds are also high.

Entomologie médicale / Parasitologie / Virologie [052] ; Sciences du monde végétal [076]

Fonds IRD [F B010083462]

fdi:010083462