Search

Abstract: The ethanolic extracts from fresh apical stems of Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with IBA/BAP/Coco nucifera L. milk for 1, 2, 4 and 6 months were phytochemically and biologically investigated and compared with intact plant part and whole plant extracts. Results from the in vitro antiplasmodial testing indicated that the EtOH extract of a 1-month-old callus culture (IC50 = 16.3 ± 2.5μg/ml) exhibited a higher activity than the ethanolic extracts of the fresh apical stem (IC50 = 18.2 ± 2.4μg/ml) and callus cultures of 2-, 4- and 6-months-old (25μg/ml < IC50 < 40μg/ml). These activities were however lower than that displayed by the ethanolic extract of the whole plant (IC50 < 3μg/ml). The EtOH extract of 1-month-old callus culture (the most active) was fractionated with solvents of different polarities. Its CH2Cl2 fraction rich in terpenic constituents (IC50 = 9.2 ± 3.4μg/ml) exhibited a higher antiplasmodial activity than its isoamylic alcohol fraction obtained at pH 2–3 (IC50 = 25.6 ± 2.3μg/ml) rich in flavonoids. The activity of these two fractions was lower than that displayed by the same fractions from the whole plant (2μg/ml < IC50 < 3μg/ml). Alkaloidic fractions from the whole plant and 1-month-old callus culture of fresh apical stem were considered as inactive (IC50 > 100μg/ml). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]