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In vitro cytotoxic, antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants from Vanuatu
Author(s) -
Bradacs Gesine,
Maes Louis,
Heilmann Jörg
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2981
Subject(s) - antiprotozoal , trypanosoma cruzi , antimicrobial , biology , traditional medicine , plasmodium falciparum , pharmacognosy , antifungal , antiparasitic , protozoa , cancer cell lines , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , biological activity , parasite hosting , cancer cell , cancer , medicine , biochemistry , immunology , malaria , pathology , world wide web , computer science , genetics
Abstract Sixty‐three extracts obtained from 18 plants traditionally used in the South Pacific archipelago Vanuatu for the treatment of infectious diseases were screened for antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities. In addition, the extracts were subjected to a detailed analysis on cytotoxic effects toward a panel of human cancer cell lines, designed as a smaller version of the NCI60 screen. Intriguingly, 15 plant extracts exhibited strong cytotoxic effects specific for only one cancer cell line. Extracts of the leaves of Acalypha grandis B enth . significantly affected Plasmodium falciparum without showing obvious effects against the other protozoa tested. The leaves of Gyrocarpus americanus J acq . displayed significant activity against Trypanosoma b. brucei and the leaves of Tabernaemontana pandacaqui L am . I as well as the stems of Macropiper latifolium (L. f .) against Trypanosoma cruzi . In contrast none of the extracts showed relevant antibacterial or antifungal activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.