Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_008
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949808

Antimalarial and antitrypanosomal activities of West Cameroon medicinal plants

BL Ndjakou 1, B Weniger 2, F Tantangmo 3, M Chaabi 2, S Ngouela 3, E Tsamo 3, R Anton 2
  • 1Department of Chemistry, Higher Teacher's Training College, University of Yaounde 1, BP 47, Yaounde, Cameroon
  • 2Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, LC1 UMR 7175, Faculté de Pharmacie de Strasbourg,78 route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch, France
  • 3Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, BP 812, Yaounde, Cameroon

Fourteen extracts from seven Cameroon medicinal plants [1, 2], traditionally used to treat malaria and other parasitic diseases were screened for their antiprotozoal activities against Plasmodium falciparum K1 chloroquine resistant strain and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, protozoa responsible for malaria and trypanosomiasis, respectively. The most active extract against P. falciparum was the methanolic extract of Albizia zygia stembark, with an IC50 value of 1.04µg/mL. Three of the tested extract showed IC50 below 7.15µg/mL against T.b. rhodesiense, with Albizia zygia methanolic extract showing again the best activity (IC50 =0.18µg/mL). These results contribute to the validation of the traditional antiprotozoal use of these medicinal species in Cameroon.

References: 1. Vivien J., Flaure J.J. (1973), Arbres des forêts denses d'afrique centrale: Espèces du Cameroun. République Francaise. Agence de coopération culturelle et technique. 2. Laird S.A. et al. (1997), Medicinal Plants of the Limbe Botanic Garden, Cameroon.