| dc.description.abstract | The stem bark extract of Bischofia javanica, used in traditional Kenyan medicine afforded nine compounds named, santin (1), ermanin (2), rhamnocitrin (3), kumatakenin (4), abyssinone V-4′-methyl ether (5), β-sitosterol (6), betulinic acid (7), friedelin (8) and 1-methyl-1,10-phenanthrolin-1-ium (9). Structural elucidation was performed based on spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses, and the data were compared with those reported in the literature. The natural origin of 1-methyl-1,10-phenanthrolin-1-ium (9) in the plant kingdom is reported here for the first time. Ermanin (2) showed selective in vitro antiplasmodial activity with IC50 = 0.05 μM, while 1-methyl-1,10-phenanthrolinium (9) exhibited potent antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values of 1.56 μM (in vitro), and 1.20 μM (ex vivo). Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that 1-methyl-1,10-phenanthrolinium (9) could be considered a potential lead compound for future antimalarial drugs. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The authors are grateful for the financial support from the International Science Program (ISP) Sweden, through the Ken-02 project. Special thanks to Mr. Patrick Mutiso of the Herbarium, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), University of Nairobi for authentication of the plant material. | en_US |
