Antifilarial activity in vitro of polycarpol and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid from cameroonian medicinal plants against Onchocerca gutturosa

Previous results have revealed the antifilarial activities of crude extracts and pure compounds from some Cameroonian medicinal plants against Onchocerca volvulus and Onchocerca gutturosa. In our efforts to find new filaricidal agents against adult male O. gutturosa worms, we have isolated and screened three compounds: polycarpol and polyveoline from Polyalthia suaveolens (Annonaceae) and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid from Discoglypremna caloneura (Euphorbiaceae). Only polycarpol and 3-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid exhibited significant inhibitory activities on the vitality of adult male worms of O. gutturosa using Amocarzine as positive control compound. The motility reduction values were 28.6 and 57.1%, and the inhibition of MTT reduction values 80.0 and 64.8% respectively.