• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.415-421
• /
• 2016

The drug-resistance of malaria parasites is the main problem in the disease control. The huge Brazilian biodiversity promotes the search for new compounds, where the animal kingdom is proving to be a promising source of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activity of the compounds obtained from the toad venoms of Brazilian Amazon. Toad venoms were collected from the secretion of Rhinella marina and Rhaebo guttatus in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The powder was extracted at room temperature, yielding 2 extracts (RG and RM) and a substance ('1') identified as a bufadienolide, named telocinobufagin. Growth inhibition, intraerythrocytic development, and parasite morphology were evaluated in culture by microscopic observations of Giemsa-stained thin blood films. Cytotoxicity was determined against HepG2 and BGM cells by MTT and neutral red assays. The 2 extracts and the pure substance ('1') tested were active against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain, demonstrating lower $IC_{50}$ values. In cytotoxic tests, the 2 extracts and substance '1' showed pronounced lethal effects on chloroquine-resistant P. faciparum strain and low cytotoxic effect, highlighting toad parotoid gland secretions as a promising source of novel lead antiplasmodial compounds.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.777-779
• /
• 2003

Among extracts prepared from Alstonia scholaris, Phyllostachys pubescens and Bambusa veitchii, methanol fraction of Alstonia scholaris was found to have antiplasmodial effect by inhibiting growth of the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain FCR-3 with less than 14 μg/ml of EC50 values. Methanol fraction 2 of Alstonia scholaris revealed the strongest anti plasmodial effect with 40 μg/ml of EC50 value. Especially, this fraction showed higher than 3-folds selective toxicity on a Plasmodium as the EC value was 116 μg/ml on the host FM3A cell. This is the first report on which an extract compound from Alstonia scholaris showed antimalarial effect.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.26.1-26.9
• /
• 2014

Reactive oxygen species are known to mediate various pathological conditions associated with malaria. In this study, the antioxidant potential of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts, an indigenous antimalarial remedy, was evaluated. Total phenol, flavonoid, selenium, vitamins C and E contents of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were determined. The free radical scavenging activities of the extracts against DPPH, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide coupled with their reducing power were also evaluated in vitro. Moreover, responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) in a rodent malaria model to a 4-day administration of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extracts were also evaluated. The methanolic extract was found to contain the highest amounts of antioxidant compounds/element and also demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity in vitro. The results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in SOD and CAT activities with a concurrent significant (p < 0.05) increase in GPx and GR activities in both erythrocytes and liver of untreated Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected animals compared to the uninfected animals. The extracts were able to significantly increase (p < 0.05) SOD and CAT activities and significantly reduce (p < 0.05) GPx and GR activities in both the liver and erythrocytes compared to those observed in the untreated infected animals. The results suggest the augmentation of the antioxidant system as one of the possible mechanisms by which Clerodendrum violaceum extract ameliorates secondary effects of malaria infection, alongside its antiplasmodial effect in subjects.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2009

Essential oils are mixture of volatile, lipophilic compounds originating from plants. Essential oils have potential biological effects, i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic and antiplasmodial activities and insect-repellent property. In this study, five essential oils, namely R, LG, FR, O, and NM, extracted from various aromatic plants were used to test their antimicrobial activity against the oral microorganisms. The effects of essential oils were investigated against eight important bacteria, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus sanguis (S. sanguis), Streptococcus anginosus (S. anginosus), Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Essential oils, except NM, effectively inhibited the growth of tested oral pathogenic microorganisms dose-dependently. However, the essential oils didn't show a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli and S. epidermidis. Consequently, these results represented that essential oil-mediated anti-microbial activity was prominent against the oral pathogenic bacteria. For example, minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) of R, LG, FR oil against A. actinomycetemcomitans was very low as 0.078 mg/mL. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R, LG, FR, O oil against S. mutans was low as 0.156 mg/mL in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2014

Essential oils of various plants have been known for potential biological effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic, antiplasmodial activities and insect-repellent property. Recently, the essential oils have attracted considerable interest in oral disease therapy. This essential oil has been known as being effective on easing sick house syndrome, giving forest aroma therapy effect and acting as repellent against pest. The essential oil of Pinus koraiensi, a native plant from Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, was obtained by hydrodistillation. In light of its medicinal importance, in this study its composition, antibacterial activity and the reducing effect of offensive odor have been analyzed. The composition of essential oil was determined by GC and GC-MS. We have identified 14 compounds, of which 1R-${\alpha}$-pinene (19.38 %), 3-carene (10.21 %), camphene (9.82 %), limonene (9.00 %), bicyclo[2,2,1] heptan-2-ol (8.76 %) and ${\beta}$-phellandrene (7.98 %) were the main components. Essential oils from P. koraiensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Abies holophylla and Pinus densiflora were compared in terms of alleviating effect of malodors caused from formaldehyde, ammonia, trimethylamine and methylmercaptan. P. koraiensis essential oil was found to decrease the amounts of ammonia and trimethylamine by 75.17 % and 77.36 %, respectively. Antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which were known as oral cavity inducer, was investigated using the paper disc agar diffusion method. The inhibition zone was observed against S. mutans (5.97 mm) and S. sobrinus (1.40 mm), respectively. P. koraiensis essential oil shown effective deodorization and inhibitory activity against oral cavity in this study might be potential material in oral sanitary industry.