Identification of antiparasitic bioactive compounds from the Psorospermum genus (Hypericaceae).

Several plants from the Psorospermum genus are described to treat cutaneous disorders in different African traditional medicines. In addition, barks from P. glaberrimum are also described to treat severe cases of malaria. Previously, dichloromethane extracts from six species of the Psorospermum genus have shown significant in vitro antiparasitic activities against Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani parasites. Anthraquinones, flavonoids and terpenoids have been isolated from Psorospermum sp., reporting multiple anti-infectious activities ([Fig. 1]).

Fig. 1 Principal Component Analysis Score Plots

With the principal aim to identify a putative class of bioactive compounds from Psorospermum medicinal plants, we analysed by a metabolomic approach the correlation between in vitro antiplasmodial/antileishmanial activities and the chemical composition of ten Psorospermum species. A total of 39 extracts were obtained by classical maceration in dichloromethane from 10 Psorospermum species and their in vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated against the blood stages of P. falciparum (at 1 and 10 µg/mL). HPLC-PDA-HRMS/MS analysis was performed to evaluate the chemical constitutions of the extracts. Metabolomic analyses were performed on MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform. Principal component analysis of the chemical constituents of the matrix, allowed us to discriminate between two groups of samples: firstly, trunks, barks and stems (BTS) and on the other hand, leaves and fruits (FFr) extracts. Specific analysis between BTS and FFr groups and their antiplasmodial activity, allowed us to identify three (m/z 325, 469 and 343) and five (m/z 545, 647, 357, 561 and 475) putative bioactive compounds respectively for their activity. Antileishmanial screening, dereplication and mass-guided isolation are in progress to confirm and explore the antiparasitic activities of these compounds.

 

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. November 2023