ISSN 2736-173X
African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Polygalloyltannin isolated from the roots of Acacia nilotica Del. (Leguminoseae) is effective against Plasmodium berghei in mice
Ali A. Jigam1*, Helmina O. Akanya1, Bukar E. N. Dauda2 and J. O. Okogun3
1Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
2Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
3Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
Accepted 24 October, 2019
Abstract
Crude methanolic root extracts of Acacia nilotica Del. (Leguminoseae) demonstrated significant activity against chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei in mice. Purified extracts showed only a single fraction with significant antiplasmodial effects using bioguided essay techniques. The active A. nilotica isolate was highly polar dissolving readily in methanol, appeared as a single spot in different TLC conditions and was positive for tannins, melting with decomposition between 224 - 229°C. Its 1H NMR spectra exhibited large signals at S 6.90 - 7.58 and 4.70 - 5.00. The Mass spectra (ES1 - Msn) of the isolate gave a large M - 1 signal of m/z 1395 consistent with the molecular formula C62H43O38. Others at 1243, 1091, 939, 787, 635, 453 and 331 that differ by m/z 152 were accounted for by the progressive loss of a galloyl (C7H4O 4) moiety. A polygalloyltannin structure containing a central glucosyl moiety corresponding with 1, 3, 6 – digalloyl – 2, 4 monogalloyltannin was hence postulated.
Key words: Acacia nilotica, Plasmodium berghei, Bioguided assay 1H NMR spectra, polygalloyltannin.