Abstract
Background
In the absence of an effective vaccine against malaria, chemotherapy remains a major option in the control of the disease. Then, the recent report of the emergence and spread of clones of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to available antimalarial drugs should be of concern as it poses a threat to disease control. Compounds whose pharmacological properties have been determined and touted for other disease can be investigated for antimalarial activity. Phenolic acids (polyphenols) have been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibiotic effects. However, information on their antimalarial activity is scanty. Phenolic acids are present in a variety of plant-based foods: mostly high in the skins and seeds of fruits as well as the leaves of vegetables. Systematic assessment of these compounds for antimalarial activity is therefore needed.
Method
Using the classical in vitro drug test, the antimalarial activities of five hydroxycinnamic acids, (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, o-Coumaric acid and ferulic acid) and two hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic acid and protocatechuic acid) against 3D7 clones of Plasmodium falciparum was determined.
Results
Among the phenolic acids tested, caffeic acid and gallic acid were found to be the most effective, with mean IC 50 value of 17.73µg/ml and 26.59µg/ml respectively for three independent determinations. Protocatechuic acid had an IC 50 value of 30.08 µg/ml. Rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid, showed moderate antimalarial activities with IC 50 values of 103.59µg/ml and 105µg/ml respectively. The IC 50 values determined for ferulic acid and o-Coumaric acid were 93.36µg/ml and 82.23µg/ml respectively.
Conclusion
The outcome of this study suggest that natural occurring phenolic compounds have appreciable level of antimalarial activity which can be exploited for use through combination of actions/efforts including structural manipulation to attain an increase in their antimalarial effect. Eating of natural food products rich in these compounds could provide antimalarial prophylactic effect.
Simultaneous Determination of Chlorogenic Acid, Caffeic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Protocatechuic Acid and Protocatechuic Aldehyde in Chinese Herbal Preparation by RP-HPLC