Antimalarial activity of Gomphostemma crinitum leaf extracts

Abstract  Antimalarial efficacy of Gomphostemma crinitum leaf extracts were studied in vitro against the chloroquine-sensitive MRC-02 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The CHCl₃ extract (IC₅₀ 37.28 μg/mL) was found to be better than the aqueous extract (IC₅₀ 111.4 μg/mL). The major compound present in CHCl₃ extract was coded as GC-7 (12,17-diacetoxy, 15-hydroxy, 2-oxo, 3, 13 E (14)-diene clerodane). Seasonal variation of GC-7 was studied and correlated to the antimalarial efficacy of the crude extracts of leaves collected in different months. GC-7 was found to be the only regular compound present in G. crinitum leaves throughout the year. A good correlation between antimalarial efficacy (IC₅₀ 9.3 μg/mL) and concentration of GC-7 in crude extracts was observed. The mode of action of GC-7 was found to be different from that of chloroquine. Graphical Abstract  Antimalarial activity of Gomphostemma crinitum leaf extracts B.N Acharya, Deepika Saraswat and M.P Kaushik^* Discovery Centre, Process Technology Development Division Defence R & D Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior-474002 (MP) INDIA ^#Entomology division, Defence Research and Development Establishment,Gwalior-474002, India Antimalarial activity of chloroform extract of G. crinitum leaves and an isolated compound GC-7 (12,17-diacetoxy,15-hydroxy,2-oxo,3,13 E (14)-diene clerodane) against a chloroquine susceptible strain of Plasmodium falciparum is described.