In vitro screening of Strychnos species for antiplasmodial activity

In considération of thé many biological properties of alkaloids, and particularly of quinine (which remains an important antimalarial drug), it was not surprising that a séries of indolomonoterpenic alkaloids, mainly isolated from Strychnos usambarensis Gilg and from Strychnos icaja Baill., thé latter used in traditional medicine from Central Africa to treat chronic malaria, présent antiplasmodial properties (2). Therefore, thèse plants, both of which contain a complex mixture of thèse indolomonoterpenic alkaloids, were subjected as well as other species of Strychnos to a first screening and were thé most active against P. falciparum (3).