In vitro antiplasmodial activity of leaves and stem bark fractions of <i>Spathodea campanulata</i> P. Beauv (Bignogniaceae)

Synthia Kemda Tassemo; Judith Caroline Ngo Nyobe; Hans Denis Bamal; Eugene Ekoune Kame; Noella Molisa Efange; Lawrence Ayong; Else Carole Eboumbou Moukoko; Jean Emmanuel Mbosso Teinkela; Synthia Kemda Tassemo; Judith Caroline Ngo Nyobe; Hans Denis Bamal; Eugene Ekoune Kame; Noella Molisa Efange; Lawrence Ayong; Else Carole Eboumbou Moukoko; Jean Emmanuel Mbosso Teinkela

doi:10.3934/molsci.2026004

AIMS Molecular Science

2026, Volume 13, Issue 1: 61-79. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2026004

Previous Article Next Article

Research article

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of leaves and stem bark fractions of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv (Bignogniaceae)

Synthia Kemda Tassemo ¹,
Judith Caroline Ngo Nyobe ¹,
Hans Denis Bamal ¹,
Eugene Ekoune Kame ¹,
Noella Molisa Efange ²,
Lawrence Ayong ²,
Else Carole Eboumbou Moukoko ^2,3,4,
Jean Emmanuel Mbosso Teinkela ^{3,5
,
,}

1.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box. 2701 Douala, Cameroon
2.
Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur Cameroon, P.O. Box 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon
3.
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box. 2701 Douala, Cameroon
4.
Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
5.
Microbiology, Bioorganic and Macromolecular Chemistry Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Campus Plaine (CP 206/4), Boulevard du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Received: 17 September 2025 Revised: 28 January 2026 Accepted: 05 February 2026 Published: 26 February 2026

Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes, and its management is increasingly hampered by growing drug resistance. This study aims to evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of different fractions obtained from the leaves and stem bark of Spathodea campanulata. Dried plant materials were extracted to produce dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions. Phytochemical screening and absorption spectrophotometry were used to identify and quantify secondary metabolites. Antiplasmodial activity was assessed against Plasmodiun falciparum 3D7 and Dd2 strains, and IC₅₀ values were determined. Leaves showed high alkaloid levels, especially in the hexane, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane fractions (1028.36 ± 21.36, 950.03 ± 25.44, and 641.8 ± 8.16 µg QiE/mg DM). In stem bark, alkaloids were also abundant in the hexane fraction (793.2 ± 25.32 µg QiE/mg DM). Polyphenols were most concentrated in the ethyl acetate fractions (209.64 ± 3.91 and 212.51 ± 1.29 µg GaE/mg DM for leaves and stem bark), and flavonoid levels were highest in the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of both plant parts. Dichloromethane fractions of leaves and stem bark, as well as the ethyl acetate stem bark fraction, showed good activity against Pf 3D7 (IC₅₀: 16.69–19.84 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fractions of leaves and hexane fractions of both plant parts demonstrated moderate activity (IC₅₀: 30.85–38.69 µg/mL). Against Pf Dd2, only the dichloromethane fractions and the stem bark ethyl acetate fraction showed moderate activity (IC₅₀: 25.91–39.17 µg/mL). These activities are likely linked to alkaloid, polyphenol, and flavonoid content. The most active fraction was the dichloromethane fraction of the stem bark, which was effective on both strains and may represent potential therapeutic alternatives.
- Spathodea campanulata,
- Pf 3D7 and Pf Dd2 strains,
- antiplasmodial activity,
- quantitative phytochemical screening,
- Cameroon
Citation: Synthia Kemda Tassemo, Judith Caroline Ngo Nyobe, Hans Denis Bamal, Eugene Ekoune Kame, Noella Molisa Efange, Lawrence Ayong, Else Carole Eboumbou Moukoko, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso Teinkela. In vitro antiplasmodial activity of leaves and stem bark fractions of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv (Bignogniaceae)[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2026, 13(1): 61-79. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2026004

Related Papers:

Abstract

Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes, and its management is increasingly hampered by growing drug resistance. This study aims to evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of different fractions obtained from the leaves and stem bark of Spathodea campanulata. Dried plant materials were extracted to produce dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions. Phytochemical screening and absorption spectrophotometry were used to identify and quantify secondary metabolites. Antiplasmodial activity was assessed against Plasmodiun falciparum 3D7 and Dd2 strains, and IC₅₀ values were determined. Leaves showed high alkaloid levels, especially in the hexane, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane fractions (1028.36 ± 21.36, 950.03 ± 25.44, and 641.8 ± 8.16 µg QiE/mg DM). In stem bark, alkaloids were also abundant in the hexane fraction (793.2 ± 25.32 µg QiE/mg DM). Polyphenols were most concentrated in the ethyl acetate fractions (209.64 ± 3.91 and 212.51 ± 1.29 µg GaE/mg DM for leaves and stem bark), and flavonoid levels were highest in the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of both plant parts. Dichloromethane fractions of leaves and stem bark, as well as the ethyl acetate stem bark fraction, showed good activity against Pf 3D7 (IC₅₀: 16.69–19.84 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fractions of leaves and hexane fractions of both plant parts demonstrated moderate activity (IC₅₀: 30.85–38.69 µg/mL). Against Pf Dd2, only the dichloromethane fractions and the stem bark ethyl acetate fraction showed moderate activity (IC₅₀: 25.91–39.17 µg/mL). These activities are likely linked to alkaloid, polyphenol, and flavonoid content. The most active fraction was the dichloromethane fraction of the stem bark, which was effective on both strains and may represent potential therapeutic alternatives.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Centre Pasteur du Cameroun for the antiplasmodial activity. We would also like to thank Eliane Dumont for proofreading.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper.

References

[1]	World Health Organization (WHO)World malaria report 2025 (2025). Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2025
[2]	World Health Organization (WHO)World malaria report 2022 (2022). Available from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/365169/9789240064898-eng.pdf?sequence=1
[3]	World Health Organization (WHO)Mobilizing communities to help prevent and control malaria in Cameroon (2022). Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/mobilizing-communities-to-help-prevent-and-control-malaria-in-cameroon
[4]	Ministry of Public HealthNational strategic plan for malaria control in Cameroon. 2019–2023 (2019). Available from: https://www.medbox.org/document/plan-strategique-national-de-lutte-contre-le-paludisme-au-cameroun-2019-2023
[5]	Uwimana A, Umulisa N, Venkatesan M, et al. (2021) Association of Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 R561H genotypes with delayed parasite clearance in Rwanda: An open-label, single-arm, multicentre, therapeutic efficacy study. Lancet Infect Dis 21: 1120-1128. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00142-0
[6]	Straimer J, Gandhi P, Renner KC, et al. (2022) High prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum K13 mutations in Rwanda is associated with slow parasite clearance after treatment with artemether-lumefantrine. J Infect Dis 225: 1411-1414. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab352
[7]	Asua V, Conrad MD, Aydemir O, et al. (2021) Changing prevalence of potential mediators of aminoquinoline, antifolate, and artemisinin resistance across Uganda. J Infect Dis 223: 985-994. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa687
[8]	Balikagala B, Fukuda N, Ikeda M, et al. (2021) Evidence of artemisinin-resistant malaria in Africa. N Engl J Med 385: 1163-1171. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2101746
[9]	Ikeda M, Kaneko M, Tachibana SI, et al. (2018) Artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum with high survival rates, Uganda, 2014–2016. Emerg Infect Dis 24: 718-726. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2404.170141
[10]	World health organizationChronic staff shortfalls stifle Africa's health systems: WHO study (2022). Available from: https://www.afro.who.int/news/chronic-staff-shortfalls-stifle-africas-health-systems-who-study
[11]	World Health OrganizationWHO traditional medicine strategy: 2014–2023 (2013). Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/92455
[12]	Titanji VPK, Zofou D, Ngemenya MN (2008) The antimalarial potential of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Cameroonian folk medicine. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 5: 302-321.
[13]	Klayman DL (1985) Qinghaosu (artemisinin): An antimalarial drug from China. Science 228: 1049-1055. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3887571
[14]	Andrade-Neto VF, Brandão MG, Stehmann JR, et al. (2003) Antimalarial activity of Cinchona-like plants used to treat fever and malaria in Brazil. J Ethnopharmacol 87: 253-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00141-7
[15]	Betti JL, Caspa R, Ambara J, et al. (2013) Ethno-Botanical study of plants used for treating malaria in a forest: Savanna margin area, East region, Cameroon. Global J Res Med Plants Indigen Med 2: 692-708.
[16]	Padhy GK (2021) Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.—A review of its ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological profile. J Appl Pharm Sci 11: 017-044. https://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2021.1101202
[17]	Kerhajo J, Bouquet A (1950) Toxic medicinal plants from Ivory Coast and Upper Volta. 23, rue de l'école de Médecine, Paris (VIe). In French . Available at: https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers18-07/01281.pdf
[18]	Mendes NM, Souza CP, Araújo N, et al. (1986) Molluscicide activity of some natural products on Biomphalaria glabrata. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 81: 87-91.
[19]	Mpondo EM, Vandi D, Ngouondjou TF, et al. (2017) Contribution of village populations in central Cameroon to traditional treatments for respiratory tract diseases. J Anim Plant Sci 32: 5223-5242.
[20]	Etame-Loe G, Ngoule CC, Mbome B, et al. (2018) Contribution a l'étude des plantes médicinales et leurs utilisations traditionnelles dans le département du Lom et Djerem (Est, Cameroun). J Anim Plant Sci 35: 5560-5578.
[21]	Mensah AY, Houghton PJ, Dickson RA, et al. (2006) In vitro evaluation of effects of two Ghanaian plants relevant to wound healing. Phytother Res 20: 941-944. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1978
[22]	Rageau J Medicinal plants from New Caledonia, 2nd edition (1973). Available from: https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_5/pt5/travaux_d/06261.pdf
[23]	Makinde JM, Amusan OO, Adesogan EK (1988) The antimalarial activity of Spathodea campanulata stem bark extract on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. Planta Med 54: 122-125. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-962367
[24]	Dhanabalan R, Doss A, Jagadeeswari M, et al. (2008) Preliminary phytochemical screening and antimalarial studies of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv leaf extracts. Ethno Leaflets 12: 811-819.
[25]	Mbosso Teinkela JE, Hassan O, Siwe NX, et al. (2023) Evaluation of in vitro antiplasmodial, antiproliferative activities, and in vivo oral acute toxicity of Spathodea campanulata flowers. Sci Afr 21: e01871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01871
[26]	Mbosso Teinkela JE, Oumarou H, Nguemfo EL, et al. (2024) UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Prediction and in vitro antiplasmodial activity of ethanolic extracts of differents parts of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae). World J Pharma Res 23: 1-21.
[27]	Gnahoue G, Bene K, Coulibaly K (2015) Botanical study, phytochemical screening and in vitro anticandidosic activity of Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb. (Myristaceae). Eur Sci J 11: 1857-7881. In French. https://doi.org/10.19044/ESJ.2015.V11N36P
[28]	Abe E, Delyle SG, Alvarez JC (2010) Extraction liquide-liquide: théorie, applications, difficultés. Ann Toxicol Anal 22: 51-59. https://doi.org/10.1051/ata/2010018
[29]	de Bruneton J Pharmacognosie-phytochimie, plantes médicinales. Lavoisier 4e éd, revue et augmentée, Tec & Dac-Editions médicinales internationales, Paris (2009).
[30]	Evans WC (2002) Trease & Evans Pharmacognosy. Elsevier.
[31]	Singleton VL, Rossi JA (1965) Colorimetry of total phenolic compounds with phosphomolybdic-phosphotungstic acid reagents. Am J Enol Vitic 16: 144-158. https://doi.org/10.5344/ajev.1965.16.3.144
[32]	Aiyegoro OA, Okoh AI (2010) Preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant activities of Helichrysum longifolium DC. BMC Complément Altern Med 10: 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-21
[33]	Hiai S, Oura H, Nakajima T (1976) Color reaction of some sapogenins and saponins with vanillin sulfuric acid. Planta Med 29: 116-122. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0028-1097639
[34]	Diouf EHG, Samb A, Sylla O, et al. (2014) Test phytochimique et insecticide de trois extraits organiques de feuilles de ficus thonningii sur callosobruchus maculatus fabricius. Int J Biol Chem Sci 8: 2588-2596. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v8i6.20
[35]	Sun BS, Ricardo-da-Silva JM, Spranger MI (1998) Critical factors of vanillin assay for catechins and proanthocyanidins. J Agri Food Chem 46: 4267-4274. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf980366j
[36]	Smilkstein M, Sriwilaijaroen N, Kelly JX, et al. (2004) Simple and inexpensive fluorescence-based technique for high-throughput antimalarial drug screening. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 48: 1803-1806. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.48.5.1803-1806.2004
[37]	Trager W, Jensen JB (1976) Human malaria parasites in continuous culture. Science 193: 673-675. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.781840
[38]	Radfar A, Méndez D, Moneriz C, et al. (2009) Synchronous culture of Plasmodium falciparum at high parasitemia levels. Nat Protoc 4: 1899-1915. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2009.198
[39]	Faurie C, Ferra C, Medori P, et al. (2005) Ecology: A scientific and practical approach. Paris: Tee et doc.
[40]	Ngouela S, Tsamo E, Sondengam BL, et al. (1991) Spathodol, a new polyhydroxysterol from the leaves of Spathodea campanulata. J Nat Prod 54: 873-876. https://doi.org/10.1021/np50075a023
[41]	Talla C, Ilyassa Y, Nnanga N, et al. (2019) Evaluation of aphrodisiac properties of the aqueous extract of the trunk barks of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) on albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). J Med Plants Res 13: 480-486. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2019.6741
[42]	Bayaga HN, Guedje NM, Tabi OY, et al. (2020) Pouvoir antibactérien des extraits aqueux et hydroéthanolique du mélange d'écorces de tronc d'Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gmel.) C.A. Sm et Spathodea campanulate P.Beauv. J Appl Biosci 154: 15881-15887.
[43]	Yarga S (2013) Evaluation of the in vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to 5 antimalarials (DHA, LUM, MDAQ, MQ, PIP). Dissertation in medical parasitology . Nanoro: Institut supérieur des sciences de la santé.
[44]	Chauhan MS, Yadav S (2023) Qualitative and quantitative determination of secondary metabolites of Sphaeranthus indicus and Spathodea campanulata flowers extracts. J Drug Deliv Ther 13: 85-89. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v13i4.5824
[45]	Singh N, Kaushik NK, Mohanakrishnan D, et al. (2015) Antiplasmodial activity of medicinal plants from Chhotanagpur plateau, Jharkhand, India. J Ethnopharmacol 165: 152-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.038
[46]	Bero J (2012) Evaluation of the antiparasitic activity of plants used in traditional medicine in Benin and identification of active principles. Leuven: Université Catholique de Louvain. Available from: https://dial.uclouvain.be/pr/boreal/object/boreal:111492
[47]	Cho N, Du Y, Valenciano AL, et al. (2018) Antiplasmodial alkaloids from bulbs of Amaryllis belladonna Steud. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 28: 40-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.11.021
[48]	Fou D, Tematio EL, Ntie-Kang F, et al. (2013) New antimalarial hits from Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae), Part I, isolation, in vitro activity, in silico “drug-likeness” and pharmacokinetic profiles. PLoS One 8: e79544. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079544
[49]	Muganga R, Angenot L, Tits M, et al. (2014) In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of three Rwandan medicinal plants and identification of their active compounds. Planta Med 80: 482-489. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1368322
[50]	Adulaimi O, Uche FI, Hameed H, et al. (2017) A characterization of the antimalarial activity of the bark of Cylicodiscus gabunensis Harms. J Ethnopharmacol 198: 221-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.014
[51]	Khasanah U, Widya WA, Hafid AF, et al. (2017) Antiplasmodial activity of isolated polyphenols from Alectryon serratus Leaves Against 3D7 Plasmodium falciparum. Pharmacognosy Res 9: S57-S60. https://doi.org/10.4103/pr.pr_39_17
[52]	Wahyuni TS, Ekasari W, Widyawati A, et al. (2009) Artopeden A, a new antiplasmodial isoprenylated flavone from Artocarpus champeden. Heterocycles 79: 1121-1126.
[53]	Marliana E, Hairani R, Tjahjandarie TS, et al. (2018) Antiplasmodial activity of flavonoids from Macaranga tanarius leaves. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 144: 012011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/144/1/012011
[54]	Ngnameko CR, Marchetti L, Zambelli B, et al. (2020) New insights into bioactive compounds from the medicinal plant Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. and their activity against Helicobacter pylori. Antibiotics 9: 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9050258
[55]	Nazif NM (2007) Phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauvois. Growing in Egypt. Nat Prod Sci 13: 11-16.
[56]	Elusiyan CA, Ani NC, Adewunmi CO, et al. (2011) Distribution of iridoid glucosides and antioxidant compounds in Spathodea campanulata parts. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 8: 27-33. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i1.60491
[57]	Wagh A, Butle S, Raut D (2021) Isolation, identification, and cytotoxicity evaluation of phytochemicals from chloroform extract of Spathodea campanulata. Futur J Pharm Sci 7: 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00205-7
[58]	Gouda YG (2009) Flavonoids and phenylpropanoids from Spathodea campanulata P. Beauvais leaves. Bull Pharm Sci 32: 301-309. https://doi.org/10.21608/bfsa.2009.63500

Reader Comments

Your name:*

Email:*
© 2026 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)