Cytotoxic and Antiplasmodial Xanthones from Pentadesma butyracea

Four new xanthones, butyraxanthones A-D (1-4), were isolated from the stem bark of Pentadesma butyracea, together with six known xanthones (5-10) and a triterpenoid (lupeol). The structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-10 were tested in vitro for antiplasmodial activity against a Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant strain and for cytotoxicity against a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Nearly all of these xanthones exhibited good antiplasmodial activity, and some of them also demonstrated potent cytotoxicity

Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of flavonoids and arylbenzofuran derivatives from Morus mesozygia

Morus mesozygia Stapf (Moraceae) is a plant found in many regions and used in treating many diseases including malaria and fever. Fractionation of the methanolic extract of its stem bark, using various chromatographic methods has led to the isolation and identification of 3 flavonoids: artocarpesin, artochamin C and kushenol E. And 4 arylbenzofuran derivatives: moracin M, moracin C, moracin L and mulberofuran F. The methanolic extract and the seven isolated compounds were tested for antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-resistant FcB1 Plasmodium falciparum strain and cytotoxicity on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Relating to the antiplasmodial activity, it was found that all compounds were active against the FcB1 strain of Plasmodium with artocarpesin, koushenol E and mulberrofuran F showing particular potency (with the median inhibitory concentrations IC50 = 2.5-2.6 μg/ml). Cytotoxicity tests performed on MCF-7 cells revealed all the IC50 varying from <1.0 to 5.0 ± 0.6 μg/mL. A structure – activity relationship is discussed

Effects of Mondia whitei extracts on the contractile responses of isolated rat vas deferens to potassium chloride and adrenaline

Objective: To investigate the effects of the methylene chloride:methanol (CH2Cl2:MeOH, 1:1) extract of the dried roots of Mondia whitei Linn and its hexane and methanol fractions on potassium chloride (KCl) and adrenaline (Adr)-induced contractions of rat vas deferens. Materials and Methods: Isolated strips of normal adult rat vas deferens were mounted in a Ugo Basile single-organ bath containing Krebs solution. Cumulative concentration-response curves of KCl (1-7 x 10-2 M ) and adrenaline (1.21-8.45 x 10-7 M ) were established in the absence and presence of M. whitei (50-400 μg/ml). In separate experiments, after obtaining a stable plateau of contractions with KCl (60 m M ), M. whitei samples (50-400 μg/ml) were added cumulatively to relax the preparation. In KCl (60 m M ), containing depolarizing medium, cumulative concentration-contraction curve to CaCl2 (2-14 x 10-2 M ) was elicited in the absence and presence of the hexane fraction of M. whitei (50-400 μg/ml). Results: All the M. whitei samples produced rightward shift of the concentration-response curves to KCl and Adr. At high concentration of the plant extracts (400 μg/ml), a decrease of the maximal response to the contractile agents was observed compared with that obtained with the control. All the three extracts produced concentration-dependent relaxation of the plateau of contraction induced by KCl and the hexane fraction appeared to be the more potent. In calcium-free physiological salt solution, the hexane fraction of M. whitei produced rightward shift to the concentration-response curve to CaCl2 and completely abolished the contractile effect of calcium at high concentration (400 μg/ml). Conclusion: It is concluded that M. whitei extracts antagonized the contractile responses to KCl and Adr in isolated rat vas deferens, which could be due to the blockade of voltage-operated calcium channels

Effects of the aqueous and hexane extracts of Mondia whitei on the sexual behaviour and some fertility parameters of sexually inexperienced male rats

The effects of Mondia whitei Hook (Skeels) were studied on the sexual behaviour and some fertility parameters of sexually inexperienced male rats. Animals were orally administered 100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of body weight (b.w) of either the aqueous or the hexane extracts of Mondia whitei whilst the control group received 10 mL/kg b.w of 0.3% Tween 80 once/day for 14 days. Their sexual behaviour was monitored on days 0, 1, 7 and 14 days of treatment and 14 days post-treatment. Some fertility parameters (index libido, quantal pregnancy, fertility index) of the treated rat were evaluated on day 13 of treatment by pairing it overnight with two proestrus females. Results showed that Mondia whitei extracts significantly (p0.05) on intromission, ejaculation and erection. The fertility of the animals remained unaffected. It's concluded that Mondia whitei had sexual enhancement of the sexually inexperienced male rats. Keywords: Mondia whitei; sexual behaviour; inexperienced male rats The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 37-4