Ellagic Acid Derivatives from Syzygium cumini Stem Bark: Investigation of their Antiplasmodial Activity

Bioguided fractionation of Syzygium cumini (Myrtaceae) bark decoction for antiplasmodial activity was performed, leading to the isolation of three known ellagic acid derivatives (ellagic acid, ellagic acid 4-0-a-L-2"-acetylrhamnopyranoside, 3-0-methylellagic acid 3'-O-a-L-rhamnopyranoside), as well as the new derivative 3-0-methylellagic acid 3'-O-f)-D­glucopyranoside. Activity investigation was based on the reduction of P. Jalciparum (PjKl) parasitaemia in vitro and the inhibition of f)-hematin formation, a known mechanism of action of some antimalarial drugs. Among the investigated ellagic acid derivatives, only ellagic acid was able to reduce P. Jalciparum parasitaemia in vitro and inhibit f)-hematin formation, suggesting that free hydroxyl groups are necessary for activity within this class ofcompounds. Keywords: Syzygium cumini, Myrtaceae, ellagic acid derivatives, antiplasmodial, f)-hematin.