In vitro anticancer and antimalarial Erystagallin-A from Erythrina variegata (L.) stem bark

The methanol extract of Erythrina variegata (Leguminosae) stem bark showed significant anti-cancer activity against breast cancer T47D cell-lines in vitro using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. By using the anti-cancer and anti-malarial activity to follow the separations, the methanol extract was separated by combination of column chromatography. The chemical structure of an anti-cancer and an anti-malarial compound was determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and comparison with the previously reported and identified as an erystagallin-A. The erystagallin-A showed anti-cancer activity against breast cancer T47D cell-lines in vitro used with IC₅₀ 3.3 μg/mL and anti-malarial activity against both strains of parasite in vitro used with IC₅₀ of 0.02 μg/mL against 3D7 and 6.0μg/mL against K1, respectively. These results strongly suggested that stem bark of E. variegata is a promising sources for anti-cancer and anti-malarial agents.