Phenylpropanoid conjugated iridoids with anti-malarial activity from the leaves of Morinda morindoides

Yasinjan Hashim, Kazufumi Toume*, Shusaku Mizukami, Yue Wei Ge, Mayumi Taniguchi, Awet Alem Teklemichael, Nguyen Tien Huy, Joseph M. Bodi, Kenji Hirayama, Katsuko Komatsu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two phenylpropanoid-conjugated iridoids, deglucosyl gaertneroside (1) and morindoidin (2), were isolated from the leaves of Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) by activity-guided fractionation using an anti-malarial activity assay. The known related iridoids molucidin (3) and prismatomerin (4), two lignans, abscisic acid, two megastigmanes, and two flavonol glycosides were also identified. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-malarial activity against the chloroquine/mefloquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum together with cytotoxicity against adult mouse brain cells. Potent anti-malarial activity of 3 and 4 (IC50 of 0.96 and 0.80 μM, CC50 of 1.02 and 0.88 μM, and SI of 1.06 and 1.10, respectively) was shown, while new iridoids 1 and 2 and pinoresinol (5) displayed moderate activity (IC50 of 40.9, 20.6, and 24.2 μM) without cytotoxicity (CC50 > 50 μM). These results indicate that 1–5 may be promising lead compounds for anti-malarial drugs. In addition, our results imply the necessity of the quality control of the extract of M. morindoides leaves based on the contents of 1–5 in terms of the safety and efficacy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)915-925
Number of pages11
JournalNatural Medicines
Volume75
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021/09

Keywords

  • Iridoid
  • Malaria
  • Morinda morindoides
  • Phenylpropanoid conjugated iridoid
  • Plasmodium falciparum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Complementary and alternative medicine
  • Organic Chemistry

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