<i>In vitro</i> antiplasmodial activity of compounds from the stem bark of <i>Celtis integrifolia</i> lam. (Cannabaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of Celtis integrifolia stem bark afforded four compounds, including paprazine (1), trans-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid (2), friedelin (3), and betulinic acid (4). All the compounds were characterised and identified by using spectroscopic techniques, including NMR and MS, and by comparison of their data with those reported in the literature. The crude extract and the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and multidrug-resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum. The extract displayed good activity against 3D7 strains with IC50 9.9 µg/mL and moderate activity against Dd2 strains with IC50 14.9 µg/mL. Compound 2 showed moderate activity against Dd2 strains with IC50 41.2 µM. This is the first report of these compounds from C. integrifolia and the first report on antiplasmodial activities of compounds 1 and 2.