Antiplasmodial-guided Isolation from Organic Extracts of the Root Bark of Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr.

In Niger, malaria remains a major public health problem, representing a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children under five. Traditional medicine have significant importance, as it is often the first line of treatment due to its accessibility, cultural acceptability, and low cost. This study focused on the extraction, characterization, and antiplasmodial evaluation of bioactive compounds derived from the root bark of Detarium microcarpum. Successive extractions were performed using two solvents: methanol (100%) and a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane (1 :1). The obtained extracts were screened on chloroquine-sensitive (Pf3D7) and multidrug-resistant (PfDd2) P. falciparum strains using SyBr Green method. The most active dichloromethane-methanol extract (Pf3D7: IC50 = 11.98 ± 0.52 µg/mL and PfDd2: IC50 = 14.02 ± 0.17 µg/mL) was fractionated through liquid-liquid separation using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate fraction yielded three isolated steroids (1-3) and two triterpenoids (4-5). Compound (5), identified as oleanolic acid, exhibited the highest activity (Pf3D7: IC50 = 4.82 ± 0.42 µg/mL and PfDd2: IC50 = 7.02 ± 0.27 µg/mL). Comprehensive analyses including phytochemical screening, chromatographic purification, spectral interpretation, and antiplasmodial activity assessment highlighted the chemical and pharmacological potential of the organic extracts. The overall results suggest that this plant is a promising source of molecules with therapeutic potential, especially for in vitro antiplasmodial activity. This work thus constitutes a significant contribution to the scientific valorization of local plant and opens up new possibilities for the development of phytomedicines derived from the African pharmacopoeia.