Morin, quercetin, catechin and quercitrin as novel natural antimalarial candidates

Abstract

Background: The discovery of efficient antimalarial candidates from natural sources has become more urgent as a result of drug resistance emergence. Therefore, discovering effective substitutes to treat malaria remains a top priority to health community. Medicinal plants and some edible foods contain inexhaustible source of new active ingredients that may treat malaria. Objective: The aim of the current study was to explore the in-vitro inhibitory effect of the polyphenolic flavonoids: morin, quercetin, catechin, and quercitrin on the β-hematin formation in order to utilize them as new potential antimalarial leads. Methodology: The methods used were the in-vitro colorimetric semi-quantitative and quantitative assays that are based on β-hematin inhibition and optical density measurement at 405 nm. Results and discussion: The in-vitro inhibitory effect on β-hematin formation using the four flavonoids of morin, quercetin, catechin and quercitrin in comparison to chloroquine and amodiaquine positive controls signifies to their encouraging potential as new antimalarial leads. Morin flavonol however was the most potent compound even at extremely low concentration of 0.04mg/ml. The efficiency of the four flavonols suggesting the formation of a favorable complex with the free heme over β-hematin formation to a level that becomes irreversibly toxic to the plasmodium.