Identification of sitosteryl glucoside palmitate in a chloroform-derived fraction of Phyllanthus niruri with antiplasmodial and peripheral antinociceptive properties

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Ezenyi Ifeoma Chinwude, Kulkarni Roshan, Joshi Swati, Salawu Oluwakanyinsola Adeola, Emeje Martins
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014
• Subjects: Malaria; Medicinal plant; Plasmodium falciparum; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.12980/APJTB.4.2014APJTB-2013-0025; https://doaj.org/article/8a89b9da2e5f4c6da6aa2aa82dfa3de5

Objective: To evaluate the antiplasmodial properties of fractions of chloroform portion of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) methanol extract and identify a suitable chemical marker present therein. Methods: Chloroform portion of P. niruri methanol extract was separated from silica gel using gradient systems of hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. The fractions were screened for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum HB3 and FcM29. Fractions with IC50<10 μg/mL against parasites were further screened for peripheral analgesic activity, while cytotoxicity was evaluated using THP-1 cells. Results: Fractions 12-14 were very active (IC50<10 μg/mL) against Plasmodium falciparum and showed no significant cytotoxicity. Fractions 12 and 13 exhibited significant (P<0.01) reduction in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, decreasing the number of writhes by 66.67% and 65.22% respectively and comparable with 100 mg/kg aspirin (65.22%). From fraction 12, a compound was isolated and identified as sitosteryl-6-β-D-glucoside-6’-palmitate by 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopies. Conclusions: Our findings illustrate antiplasmodial column fractions of P. niruri with analgesic activity and identify sitosteryl glucoside palmitate as a chemical marker of activity.