Chemical profiling by LC-NMR of plants from Peruvian Amazonia with antiparasitic activities

Malaria and leishmaniasis are considered by the WHO as the first and second most important protozoan vector-borne parasitic diseases in the tropics [1]. Traditional medicine in the Peruvian Amazonian regions is commonly used by local people. Forty-eight plants, without previous phytochemical background, were collected in Allpahuayo National Reserve and Jenaro Herrera community (Loreto – Peru). Based on traditional use, ethanolic extracts were tested in vitro on different parasites strain (Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani) [2,3]. Piper amazonicum (Miq.) C. DC. (Piperaceae) and Grias neuberthii J.F.Macbr. (Lecythidaceae) showed strong activity (< 1 µg/mL) against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 chloroquine-sensible strain and < 10 µg/mL against Leishmania donovani (intramacrophagic stage in LV 9 strain), along with low cytotoxicity on macrophages (> 25 µg/mL). In order to determine the anti-malaria mechanism of action, heme binding method by mass spectroscopy (MS) associated to molecular networking interpretation were investigated. Chemical profiling by LC-SPE-NMR of these extracts were performed which allowed the rapid identification of the main active compounds and major known metabolites while avoiding tedious purification procedures [4]. 2 new compounds from P. amazonicum (C₁₃H₁₈N₂O₆ and C₂₆H₁₆N₂O₁₁) and 2 new compounds from G. neuberthii (C₃₇H₆₈N₅O₆ and C₄₀H₇₉N₄O₁₁) are being isolated as the antiplasmodial compounds. The study shows an example of fast targeting of active antiparasitic compounds from small amount of biological material (5 g of plant powder), allowing pharmacological exploration without threatening biodiversity.

Acknowledgements: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONCYTEC) is acknowledged for PhD funding of Pedro Vásquez-Ocmín.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, chemical profiling, malaria, leishmania.

References:

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).