Furanocoumarins from <i>Ruta chalepensis</i> with Amebicide Activity

• Main Authors: Aldo Fabio Bazaldúa-Rodríguez, Ramiro Quintanilla-Licea, María Julia Verde-Star, Magda Elizabeth Hernández-García, Javier Vargas-Villarreal, Jesús Norberto Garza-González
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: parasitic diseases; amoebiasis; Mexican traditional medicine; bioguided isolation; natural products; antiprotozoal agents
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/12/3684

<i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> (protozoan; family Endomoebidae) is the cause of amoebiasis, a disease related to high morbidity and mortality. Nowadays, this illness is considered a significant public health issue in developing countries. In addition, parasite resistance to conventional medicinal treatment has increased in recent years. Traditional medicine around the world represents a valuable source of alternative treatment for many parasite diseases. In a previous paper, we communicated about the antiprotozoal activity in vitro of the methanolic (MeOH) extract of <i>Ruta chalepensis</i> (Rutaceae) against <i>E. histolytica</i>. The plant is extensively employed in Mexican traditional medicine. The following workup of the MeOH extract of <i>R. chalepensis</i> afforded the furocoumarins rutamarin (<b>1</b>) and chalepin (<b>2</b>), which showed high antiprotozoal activity on <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i> trophozoites employing in vitro tests (IC₅₀ values of 6.52 and 28.95 µg/mL, respectively). Therefore, we offer a full scientific report about the bioguided isolation and the amebicide activity of chalepin and rutamarin.