Leaves from the Tree ⁢Poincianella pluviosa⁢ as a Renewable Source of Antiplasmodial Compounds against Chloroquine-Resistant ⁢Plasmodium falciparum⁢

Poincianella pluviosa is a tree whose stem bark is reputed to have antidiarrheal, wound healing, antitumoral and antimalarial properties. Considering that the leaves of the tree are a more abundant and renewable source than the stem bark, we chose to study the antimalarial potential of this organ part. The aqueous leaf extract exhibited a rich phenolic profile. It was active (IC50 = 6.88 +/- 1.64 mu g mL(-1)) against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum (W2) without toxicity to HepG2 A16 cells. The organic fraction was more active (IC50 = 1.83 mu g mL(-1)) than the aqueous leaf extract itself. Ten phenolic compounds were obtained from the latter. This is the first report on the phenolic composition of P. pluviosa leaves. Ellagic acid (IC50 = 0.215 +/- 0.007 mu g mL(-1)) proved to be 32 fold more active than the aqueous leaf extract itself. Considering their renewable aspect. leaves of P pluviosa appear to be a more interesting source of antimalarial compounds than stem bark.