In vitro antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of sesquiterpene lactones from Vernonia fimbrillifera Less. (Asteraceae)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO 2016 WHO. 2016. World Malaria report 2016 [Internet]; [cited 2016 Dec 20]. Available from:
https://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-2016/report/en/
[Google Scholar]
), malaria caused at least 429 000 deaths globally in 2015. Among these, 70% were children under the age of five and 99% were due to the parasite species Plasmodium falciparum. The fight against this major public health problem is threatened by the rapid emergence and spread of parasite strains resistant towards available approved treatments. Urgent efforts are therefore needed to identify new antimalarial drugs. As such, our research groups decided to study Reunion Island as a potential source for the discovery of new antiplasmodial metabolites. This natural patrimony has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot due to its numerous endemic species and its preserved ecosystems (Myers et al. 2000 Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, DaFonesca GAB, Kent J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature. 403:853–858.10.1038/35002501
[CrossRef], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
). The National Botanical Conservatory of the Mascarenes indicates that Vernonia fimbrillifera Less. is an endemic species from Reunion Island, locally named ‘bois de source’, which grows in the humid tropical forest (Lavergne and Véra 1989 Lavergne R, Véra R. 1989. Etude ethnobotanique des plantes utilisées dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle à La Réunion [Ethnobotanical study of plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia of Reunion Island]. Paris: Agence de coopération culturelle et technique.
[Google Scholar]
). To the best of our knowledge, neither phytochemical nor pharmacological works have been performed up to now on V. fimbrillifera. This study isolated and determined the structure of three antiplasmodial sesquiterpene lactones. Compounds were additionally tested in vitro for their cytotoxicity and their selectivity indices were established.