A STUDY OF VITEX TRIFOLIA AND ITS ACTIVE COMPONENTS FOR POTENTIAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-MALARIAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) forms the basis of inflammatory diseases and malarial complications. Vitex trifolia leaves had been traditionally used to control malaria-related fever and headache. The aim of this thesis is to identify components in Vitex trifolia leaves with dual anti-inflammatory and anti-malarial activities. Following the bioassay-guided fractionation of ethanol maceration and dichloromethane ultrasonication V. trifolia extracts, four compounds (artemetin, casticin, maslinic acid and vitexilactone) were isolated. Casticin showed the greatest inhibition of TNF-α while artemetin showed the greatest inhibition of IL-1β in U937 macrophages. Casticin showed the greatest anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Eight other compounds were identified in V. trifolia by GC-MS analyses. Overall, the findings of this study supported the traditional uses of V. trifolia leaves in inflammatory diseases and malaria. The discovery of active compounds with dual anti-inflammatory and anti-malarial activities may hold promise for treating malarial fever and its complications.