Ethanol Extract of Spathodea Campanulata and Its Component Ellagic Acid Modulate Β-haematin Metabolism, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, and Calcium Homeostasis in Plasmodium Falciparum

• Dunkwu Cyril Chukwudi

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

• Opajobi Adefunke Olukemi

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

• Onobudu Divine Avwerosuoghen

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

• Enyi Kingsley Chinedu

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

• Orororo Osuvwe Clement

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

• Onyesom Innocent

  Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

  Author

Background: Malaria remains a global health threat, with increasing resistance to frontline drugs driving the search for novel therapies. Spathode acampanulata is traditionally used in African medicine against malaria, yet its molecular mechanisms are not fully defined. This study assessed the ethanol extract of S. campanulata leaves and its phytoconstituent ellagic acid for their ability to modulate β-haematin metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial membrane potential in Plasmodium falciparum.

Materials and Methods: Ellagic acid was isolated by preparative HPLC and confirmed using analytical HPLC. Hemolytic activity was evaluated in human O⁺ erythrocytes, while β-haematin inhibition, calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial potential disruption were measured in P. falciparum (3D7 strain) using standard assays, data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 and one-way ANOVA with significance at p < 0.05.

Results: The ethanol extract (IC₅₀ = 4.80 ± 0.22 µg/mL) and ellagic acid (3.70 ± 0.80 µg/mL) exhibited low hemolytic activity relative to chloroquine (3.60 ± 0.82 µg/mL). The extract demonstrated superior β-haematin inhibition (0.35 ± 0.12 µg/mL) compared to ellagic acid (1.30 ± 1.00 µg/mL), whereas ellagic acid strongly disrupted mitochondrial potential (0.54 ± 0.21 µg/mL) and calcium signaling.

Conclusion: HPLC analysis confirmed ellagic acid content at 2.5 % w/w of crude extract. These findings suggest complementary mechanisms between extract and ellagic acid, supporting their potential as scaffolds for antimalarial drug development.

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