Antiplasmodial activity of atisinium chloride from the Bhutanese medicinal plant, Aconitum orochryseum

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Wangchuk, Phurpa;Bremner, John B.;Samten, ;Skelton, Brian W.;White, Allan H.;Rattanajak, Roonglawan;Kamchonwongpaisan, Sumalee
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The plant Aconitum orochryseum Stapf. (Ranunculaceae) is employed together with other plants in Bhutanese traditional medicine and is indicated for malaria-associated fever. Aim of the study: To study the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of atisinium chloride, the major alkaloid from Aconitum orochryseum. Materials and methods: Atisinium chloride was extracted and purified from aerial parts of Aconitum orochryseum and its structure and absolute configuration confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The crude methanol extract, crude alkaloid fraction, and atisinium chloride were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the malarial Plasmodium falciparum strains TM4/8.2 (TM4; wild type) and K1CB1 (K1; chloroquine and antifolate resistant). Results: The diterpenoid alkaloid atisinium chloride was shown to have moderate antiplasmodial activities with IC50 values of 4 μM and 3.6 μM, respectively against the TM4 strain and the K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Conclusions: Our studies provide the first evidence in support of one of the indicated treatments with Aconitum orochryseum in Bhutanese traditional medicine. This alkaloid also represents a potential new antimalarial structural lead.

Journal

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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Volume

130

ISBN/ISSN

1872-7573

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Issue

3

Pages Count

4

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Publisher

Elsevier

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N/A

DOI

10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.057