The effect of Artemisia sieberi extracts on the Formation of β-Hematin
Date
2014-02-20
Authors
Akkawi, M.
Aburemeleh, Q.
Jaber, S.
Qutob, M.
Lutgen, Pierre
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Maxwell Scientific Organization
Abstract
The aim of the study is to assess the effect of Palestinian flora Artemisia sieberi extract against the
formation of β-hematin in-vitro. β-hematin is a synthetic polymer made of ferriprotoporphyrin-IX and is structurally,
chemically and spectroscopically identical to purified hemozoin formed during the intra-erythrocytic stage of
Plasmodium life cycle. As strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium emerged gaining resistance to the known
drugs used such as chloroquine, amodaquine, artemisinin, the search for new anti-malarial drugs has become a must.
Natural compounds were used throughout time as drugs and the history of anti-malarial drugs is linked with the
history of herbal medicinal products. As an attempt to find new anti-malarial drugs, the potential inhibitory effect of
Artemisia sieberi plant parts were studied using a semi-quantitative method. Leaves, flowers and stems were
collected from various areas around Jerusalem, dried at room temperature and separately ground. Extraction was
performed by soaking dried plant parts in 35% ethanol or ultrapure water. Extracts were filtered, rotary evaporated
at 50°C and then lyophilized to a constant weight. Results of this study showed the alcoholic stem extract was the
strongest in preventing the formation of β-Hematin when compared to that of the leaf or flower extracts. However
the need to find the active components of this herbal extract requires further studies.
Description
Keywords
Artemisia sieberi , β-hematin , chloroquine , ferriprotoporphyrin (IX) , hemozoin