Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon

In Cameroon, like in other African countries, infusions of <i>Artemisia afra</i> and <i>Artemisia annua</i> are widely used for the management of health-related problems, including malaria. The secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants vary between different geographi...

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Main Authors: Lahngong M. Shinyuy, Gisèle E. Loe, Olivia Jansen, Allison Ledoux, Benjamin Palmaerts, Lúcia Mamede, Naima Boussif, Olivier Bonnet, Bertin S. Enone, Sandra F. Noukimi, Abenwie S. Nchang, Kristiaan Demeyer, Annie Robert, Stephen M. Ghogomu, Jacob Souopgui, Eric Hallot, Michel Frederich
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/596
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author Lahngong M. Shinyuy
Gisèle E. Loe
Olivia Jansen
Allison Ledoux
Benjamin Palmaerts
Lúcia Mamede
Naima Boussif
Olivier Bonnet
Bertin S. Enone
Sandra F. Noukimi
Abenwie S. Nchang
Kristiaan Demeyer
Annie Robert
Stephen M. Ghogomu
Jacob Souopgui
Eric Hallot
Michel Frederich
author_facet Lahngong M. Shinyuy
Gisèle E. Loe
Olivia Jansen
Allison Ledoux
Benjamin Palmaerts
Lúcia Mamede
Naima Boussif
Olivier Bonnet
Bertin S. Enone
Sandra F. Noukimi
Abenwie S. Nchang
Kristiaan Demeyer
Annie Robert
Stephen M. Ghogomu
Jacob Souopgui
Eric Hallot
Michel Frederich
author_sort Lahngong M. Shinyuy
collection DOAJ
description In Cameroon, like in other African countries, infusions of <i>Artemisia afra</i> and <i>Artemisia annua</i> are widely used for the management of health-related problems, including malaria. The secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants vary between different geographical regions and seasons, directly influencing their effectiveness in treating ailments. This study explores the phytochemical diversity and anti-plasmodial potential of <i>A. annua</i> and <i>A. afra</i> from distinct geographical locations within Cameroon, aiming to define the optimal chemical composition in terms of anti-plasmodial activity. Extracts were prepared from plants collected from diverse regions in Cameroon during both the rainy and dry seasons, and their metabolic contents were analyzed using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC). Their anti-plasmodial potential was assessed on a chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> strain. Additionally, the environmental parameters of the collecting sites were retrieved from multispectral satellite imagery. The activity profiles of the samples were associated with their environment, with distinct phytochemical compositions observed for each sample based on its geographical origin and season. Traces of artemisinin were detected in some of the <i>A. afra</i> samples, but it was present in the <i>A. annua</i> samples at a significantly higher concentration, especially in the rainy season samples (highest concentration in the Adamawa region, at 8.9% m/m artemisinin in the dry extract). Both plants are active at different levels, with <i>A. annua</i> more active due to the presence of artemisinin and <i>A. afra</i> probably active due to the presence of polyphenols. Both season and geographical location influence both plants’ metabolic contents and hence their antimalaria activity. These findings suggest that the selection of a suitable <i>Artemisia</i> sample for use as a potential antimalarial treatment should take into consideration its geographical origin and the period of collection.
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spelling doaj-art-340164223db746aeaa20ab68a566c4862025-08-20T02:12:30ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130359610.3390/molecules30030596Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in CameroonLahngong M. Shinyuy0Gisèle E. Loe1Olivia Jansen2Allison Ledoux3Benjamin Palmaerts4Lúcia Mamede5Naima Boussif6Olivier Bonnet7Bertin S. Enone8Sandra F. Noukimi9Abenwie S. Nchang10Kristiaan Demeyer11Annie Robert12Stephen M. Ghogomu13Jacob Souopgui14Eric Hallot15Michel Frederich16Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumLaboratory of Pharmacochemical and Natural Pharmaceutical Substances, Doctoral Training Unit in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 2701, CameroonPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumRemote Sensing and Geodata Unit, Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP), 4000 Liège, BelgiumPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumLaboratory of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Department of Analytical, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modeling (FABI), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit of Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, BelgiumEmbryology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, BelgiumDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumLaboratory of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Department of Analytical, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modeling (FABI), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit of Brussel, 1050 Ixelles, BelgiumDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumMolecular and Cell Biology Laboratory (MCBL), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 063, CameroonEmbryology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, BelgiumRemote Sensing and Geodata Unit, Institut Scientifique de Service Public (ISSeP), 4000 Liège, BelgiumPharmacognosy Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate 15, 4000 Liège, BelgiumIn Cameroon, like in other African countries, infusions of <i>Artemisia afra</i> and <i>Artemisia annua</i> are widely used for the management of health-related problems, including malaria. The secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants vary between different geographical regions and seasons, directly influencing their effectiveness in treating ailments. This study explores the phytochemical diversity and anti-plasmodial potential of <i>A. annua</i> and <i>A. afra</i> from distinct geographical locations within Cameroon, aiming to define the optimal chemical composition in terms of anti-plasmodial activity. Extracts were prepared from plants collected from diverse regions in Cameroon during both the rainy and dry seasons, and their metabolic contents were analyzed using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Gas Chromatography (GC). Their anti-plasmodial potential was assessed on a chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> strain. Additionally, the environmental parameters of the collecting sites were retrieved from multispectral satellite imagery. The activity profiles of the samples were associated with their environment, with distinct phytochemical compositions observed for each sample based on its geographical origin and season. Traces of artemisinin were detected in some of the <i>A. afra</i> samples, but it was present in the <i>A. annua</i> samples at a significantly higher concentration, especially in the rainy season samples (highest concentration in the Adamawa region, at 8.9% m/m artemisinin in the dry extract). Both plants are active at different levels, with <i>A. annua</i> more active due to the presence of artemisinin and <i>A. afra</i> probably active due to the presence of polyphenols. Both season and geographical location influence both plants’ metabolic contents and hence their antimalaria activity. These findings suggest that the selection of a suitable <i>Artemisia</i> sample for use as a potential antimalarial treatment should take into consideration its geographical origin and the period of collection.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/596artemisininmalaria<i>Artemisia annua</i>Artemisia afra<i>Plasmodium</i>metabolite
spellingShingle Lahngong M. Shinyuy
Gisèle E. Loe
Olivia Jansen
Allison Ledoux
Benjamin Palmaerts
Lúcia Mamede
Naima Boussif
Olivier Bonnet
Bertin S. Enone
Sandra F. Noukimi
Abenwie S. Nchang
Kristiaan Demeyer
Annie Robert
Stephen M. Ghogomu
Jacob Souopgui
Eric Hallot
Michel Frederich
Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
Molecules
artemisinin
malaria
<i>Artemisia annua</i>
Artemisia afra
<i>Plasmodium</i>
metabolite
title Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
title_full Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
title_fullStr Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
title_short Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Anti-Plasmodial Potential of <i>Artemisia annua</i> and <i>Artemisia afra</i> from Different Geographical Locations in Cameroon
title_sort exploring the phytochemical diversity and anti plasmodial potential of i artemisia annua i and i artemisia afra i from different geographical locations in cameroon
topic artemisinin
malaria
<i>Artemisia annua</i>
Artemisia afra
<i>Plasmodium</i>
metabolite
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/596
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