Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565826

Rapid chemical analysis and antiprotozoal effect of the solvent extracts and the essential oil of Artemisia indica

D Tasdemir 1, R Sen 2, MC Bergonzi 3, B Demirci 4, AR Bilia 3, KHC Baser 4, R Brun 5, M Chatterjee 2
  • 1GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Natural Products Chemistry Research Unit, Kiel, Germany
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
  • 3Department of Chemistry, Building of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • 4Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
  • 5Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland

Artemisia indica is used as antipyretic in malarial fevers during malaria outbreaks in India [1]. We selected this plant because reports concerning the presence of artemisinin is contradictory, the content of methoxyflavonoids that potentiate the antimalarial efficacy of artemisinin has remained unstudied and the essential oil of the plant from different regions shows great chemical variations. Solvent extracts [petroleum ether, n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, MeOH or EtOH (96, 80 or 60% v/v), and hot water] of A. indica leaves originated from the West Bengal region (India) were assessed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS for the content of artemisinin and the characteristic Artemisia methoxyflavonoids, eupatin, casticin, chrysoplenetin, cirsilineol, chrysosphenol-D and artemetin. None of the extracts contained artemisinin or the methoxyflavonoids chrysosphenol-D and artemetin, while all extracts contained chrysoplenetin. Eupatin, casticin and cirsilineol were found in all extracts except for the p. ether, n-hexane and hot water infusion. The acetone and EtOH extracts contained the highest levels of polymethoxyflavonoids (1.15 – 1.17%), whereas the infusion was devoid of them. The essential oil of the plant was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS simultaneously. Of the 92 compounds detected in the oil, camphor (13.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (10.87%) were the major components. All solvent extracts and the volatile oil showed in vitro antimalarial activity (1.8 – 20 µg/mL). Except for the infusion, all extracts were also active against other parasitic protozoa (Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense, T. cruzi, Leishmania donovani). This is the first study investigating both artemisinin and polymethoxyflavonoid content and detailed in vitro antiprotozoal potential of A. indica extracts and the essential oil.

References:

[1] Chatterjee A, Pakraõshi SC. The treatise on Indian medicinal plants. New Delhi: National Institute of Science Communication CSIR; 1997: 142 – 143