Novel Antimalarial Compounds Isolated in a Survey of Self-Medicative Behavior of Wild Chimpanzees in Uganda

Sabrina Krief (1) , M-T Martin (1) , Philippe Grellier (2) , John Kasenene (3) , Thierry Sévenet (1)

1 ICSN - Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles
2 MCAM - Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes
3 MAK - Makerere University [Kampala, Ouganda]

Following a veterinary and behavioral survey of chimpanzees from a natural population in Uganda, leaf samples of Trichilia rubescens were collected because of the unusual method of ingestion observed. The methanolic crude extract of T. rubescens leaves exhibited significant antimalarial activity in vitro. Bioassay-directed fractionation provided two new limonoids, trichirubines A and B. A greater understanding of the role of secondary compounds in the primate diet may be helpful in recovering naturally occurring compounds of medicinal significance for human medicine.

Domaines: Chimie; Microbiologie et Parasitologie

Sabrina Krief, M-T Martin, Philippe Grellier, John Kasenene, Thierry Sévenet. Novel Antimalarial Compounds Isolated in a Survey of Self-Medicative Behavior of Wild Chimpanzees in Uganda. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2004, 48 (8), pp.3196-3199. ⟨10.1128/AAC.48.8.3196-3199.2004⟩. ⟨mnhn-02070132⟩