Chemical Profiling by Lc-Nmr of Plants from Peruvian Amazonia with Antiparasitic Activities

Malaria and leishmaniasis are considered by the WHO as the first and second most important protozoan vector-borne parasitic diseases in the tropics [1]. Traditional medicine in the Peruvian Amazonian regions is commonly used by local people. Forty-eight plants, without previous phytochemical background, were collected in Allpahuayo National Reserve and Jenaro Herrera community (Loreto – Peru). Based on traditional use, ethanolic extracts were tested in vitro on different parasites strain (Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani) [2,3]. Piper amazonicum (Miq.) C. DC. (Piperaceae) and Grias neuberthii J.F.Macbr. (Lecythidaceae) showed strong activity (< 1 µg/mL) against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 chloroquine-sensible strain and < 10 µg/mL against Leishmania donovani (intramacrophagic stage in LV 9 strain), along with low cytotoxicity on macrophages (> 25 µg/mL). In order to determine the anti-malaria mechanism of action, heme binding method by mass spectroscopy (MS) associated to molecular networking interpretation were investigated. Chemical profiling by LC-SPE-NMR of these extracts were performed which allowed the rapid identification of the main active compounds and major known metabolites while avoiding tedious purification procedures [4]. 2 new compounds from P. amazonicum (C13H18N2O6 and C26H16N2O11) and 2 new compounds from G. neuberthii (C37H68N5O6 and C40H79N4O11) are being isolated as the antiplasmodial compounds. The study shows an example of fast targeting of active antiparasitic compounds from small amount of biological material (5 g of plant powder), allowing pharmacological exploration without threatening biodiversity.