Anti-plasmodial flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina abyssinica

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 65; no. 22; pp. 3029 - 3032
• Main Authors: Yenesew, Abiy, Induli, Martha, Derese, Solomon, Midiwo, Jacob O., Heydenreich, Matthias, Peter, Martin G., Akala, Hoseah, Wangui, Julia, Liyala, Pamela, Waters, Norman C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: 5-Deoxyabyssinin II; 5-Prenylbutein; Animals; Anti-plasmodial; antimalarials; Antimalarials - chemistry; Antimalarials - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Chalcone; Chalcone - analogs & derivatives; Chalcone - isolation & purification; Chalcones; Chemical constitution; chemical structure; Erythrina; Erythrina - chemistry; Erythrina abyssinica; Fabaceae; Flavanone; flavonoids; Flavonoids - isolation & purification; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General pharmacology; human health; humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Leguminosae; Malaria; Medical sciences; Molecular Structure; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; phytochemicals; Plant Bark - chemistry; plant extracts; Plant physiology and development; Plant Stems - chemistry; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects; spectral analysis; Stem bark; Stem bark; Plasmodium falciparum; Leguminosae; Malaria; Erythrina abyssinica; Flavanone; 5-Deoxyabyssinin II; Anti-plasmodial; Chalcone; 5-Prenylbutein; Molecular structure; Bark; Acetate; Flavonoid; Stem; Flavanone derivatives; Strain; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Isolation; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.08.050

A new chalcone, 1 and a new flavanone, 2, along with known flavonoids, have been isolated as the anti-plasmodial principles of the stem bark of Erythrina abyssinica. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.
The ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Erythrina abyssinica showed anti-plasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 7.9±1.1 and 5.3±0.7 μg/ml, respectively. From this extract, a new chalcone, 2′,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-5-prenylchalcone (trivial name 5-prenylbutein) and a new flavanone, 4′,7-dihydroxy-3′-methoxy-5′-prenylflavanone (trivial name, 5-deoxyabyssinin II) along with known flavonoids have been isolated as the anti-plasmodial principles. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.