TY - JOUR T1 - Exploring the Anti-Malarial and Anti-Protozoan Capabilities of Indonesian Plant Extracts for Neglected Tropical Disease Treatment A1 - Seung Hyun Kim A1 - Joon Ho Park A1 - Min Chul Lee A1 - Dong Wook Choi A1 - Hae Jin Kwon A1 - Sung Tae Yoon JF - Journal of Medical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research JO - J Med Sci Interdiscip Res SN - 3108-4826 Y1 - 2023 VL - 3 IS - 2 DO - 10.51847/nl8eyt1Efx SP - 96 EP - 106 N2 - Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect approximately 2 billion people globally and are caused by a range of pathogens, including protozoa, bacteria, and trypanosomes, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Among the 17 NTDs listed by the World Health Organization (WHO), protozoan infections such as those caused by Plasmodium, Entamoeba, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma represent a major public health concern. Indonesia, with its exceptional biodiversity resulting from a tropical climate, offers a wealth of plant species with promising bioactivities, making them potential sources for therapeutic development. This has led to an increased focus on exploring Indonesian plant extracts and their isolated compounds for anti-protozoal effects. A total of 48 plant extracts from the genera Cratoxylum, Diospyros, and Artocarpus were tested for antiprotozoal activity. Their effects were evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Entamoeba histolytica (Eh), Leishmania donovani (Ld), Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr), and Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc). Dichloromethane extracts derived from Cratoxylum arborescens roots showed pronounced inhibitory activity, with IC50 values between 0.1 and 8.2 µg/mL. Cochinchinone C, a compound isolated from these extracts, displayed potent activity against Pf, Eh, Ld, Tbr, Tc trypomastigotes, and Tc epimastigotes, with IC50 values of 5.8 µM, 6.1 µM, 0.2 µM, 0.1 µM, 0.7 µM, and 0.07 µM, respectively. Remarkably, this is the first report of cochinchinone C demonstrating antiprotozoal activity. Cytotoxicity testing revealed low toxicity and high selectivity (selectivity index >10) against both cancerous and normal human cell lines, underscoring its potential as a lead compound for drug development. Cochinchinone C represents a promising candidate for antiprotozoal drug development and highlights Indonesia’s untapped potential as a source of bioactive natural products for combating neglected tropical diseases. UR - https://smerpub.com/article/exploring-the-anti-malarial-and-anti-protozoan-capabilities-of-indonesian-plant-extracts-for-neglect-uyfjkwfqiaobzuz ER -