In vitro antiplasmodial and antimicrobial potential of Tagetes erecta roots

Abstract

Context: Among strategies to combat malaria, the search for newer antimalarial compounds is a priority. Traditionally, Tagetes erecta Linn. (Compositae) has been used for the treatment of various diseases and ailments including malaria.

Objective: Five successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous) of the roots of T. erecta and a new bithienyl compound, 2-hydroxymethyl-non-3-ynoic acid 2-[2,2']-bithiophenyl-5-ethyl ester from the roots of the plant, were evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The extracts were also tested for in vitro antimicrobial activity against seven microbial strains.

Materials and methods: The antiplasmodial screening was carried out using the schizont maturation inhibition assay. Preliminary antimicrobial screening was carried out using the agar well assay followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using two-fold serial dilutions.

Results: Among all the extracts tested, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significant antiplasmodial efficacy with the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 0.02 and 0.07 mg/mL against the chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum respectively. The new bithienyl compound also showed significant schizonticidal activity against both chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum with the IC₅₀ values of 0.01 and 0.02 mg/mL. Additionally, all extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against three Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacterial and two fungal strains with MIC values ranging between 12.5-100 µg/mL.

Discussion: The new bithienyl compound was profoundly able to arrest the ring stages of the malarial parasites thereby exerting its antiplasmodial effect.

Conclusion: The observations provide support for the ethnobotanical use of the plant.

Keywords::

• Tagetes erecta
• Compositae
• antiplasmodial
• antimicrobial
• Plasmodium falciparum
• bithienyl

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to C.R. Pillai and the late C. Usha Devi of the National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India, for providing Plasmodium falciparum cultures, and also to the staff there for imparting training on in vitro cultivation of malarial parasites, antimalarial testing and parasite counting.

Declaration of interest

There are no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.