Phytochemical and antitrypanosomal investigation of the fractions and compounds isolated from Artemisia elegantissima. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: -Rashid, Mamoon-Ur; Ali, Saqib; Alamzeb, Muhammad; Igoli, John; Clements, Carol; Shah, Syed Qaiser; Ferro, Valerie A.; Gray, Alexander Irvine; Khan, Muhammad Rafiullah
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 52:Number 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 983
• Page End: 987
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.874534
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context</italic>: <italic>Trypanosoma brucei brucei</italic> (<italic>T.b. brucei</italic>) infection causes death in cattle, while the current treatments have serious toxicity problems. However, natural products can be used to overcome the problems associated with parasitic diseases including <italic>T.b. brucei.</italic></p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: <italic>Artemisia elegantissima</italic> Pamp (Asteraceae) was evaluated phytochemically for its constituents and antitrypanosomal potential against <italic>T.b. brucei</italic> for the first time. Scopoletin isolated from <italic>A. elegantissima</italic> has shown better potential then the standard drug suramin, used against <italic>T.b. brucei</italic>.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: The ethanol extract of the aerial parts of <italic>A. elegantissima</italic> was fractionated by column and preparative thin-layer chromatography into six fractions (<bold>A–F</bold>) yielding 13 compounds, these were evaluated for their antitrypanosomal activity against <italic>T.b. brucei</italic> at different concentrations.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Thirteen compounds were isolated from <italic>A. elegantissima</italic>: (<italic>Z</italic>)-<italic>p</italic>-hydroxy cinnamic acid, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, betulinic acid, <italic>bis</italic>-dracunculin, dracunculin, scopoletin, apigenin, dihydroluteolin, scoparol, nepetin, bonanzin, and 3′, 4′-dihydroxy bonanzin. The fractions <bold>D–F</bold> were found to be active at the concentration of 20 µg/ml and three compounds isolated from these fractions, scopoletin (MIC ≤0.19 µg/ml), 3′, 4′-dihydroxy bonanzin (MIC = 6.25 µg/ml) and bonanzin (MIC = 20 µg/ml), were found to be highly active.</p> <p> <italic>Discussion and conclusion</italic>: <italic>Artemisia elegantissima</italic> was phytochemically and biologically explored for its antitrypanosomal potential against <italic>T.b. brucei</italic>. The number and orientation of phenolic hydroxyl groups play an important role in the antitrypanosomal potential of coumarins and flavonoids. The compounds 3′, 4′-dihydroxy bonanzin and scopoletin with low MIC values, hold potential for use as antitrypanosomal drug leads.</p> </abstract>