New ent-Clerodane and Abietane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Kenyan Croton megalocarpoides Friis & M. G. Gilbert.

The roots of the endangered medicinal plant Croton megalocarpoides collected in Kenya were investigated and twenty-two compounds isolated. Among them were twelve new ent-clerodane (1-12) and a new abietane (13) diterpenoids, alongside the known crotocorylifuran (4 a), two known abietane and four known ent-trachylobane diterpenoids, and the triterpenoids, lupeol and acetyl aleurotolic acid. The structures of the compounds were determined using NMR, HRMS and ECD. The isolated compounds were evaluated against a series of microorganisms (fungal and bacteria) and also against Plasmodium falciparum, however no activity was observed.

Bioactive abietenolide diterpenes from Suregada procera.

The phytochemical investigation of the leaves and the roots of Suregada procera afforded the new ent-abietane diterpenoid sureproceriolide A (1) along with the known secondary metabolites 8,14ß:11,12α-diepoxy-13(15)-abietane-16,12-olid (2), jolkinolide A (3), jolkinolide E (4), ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (5), sitosterol (6), oleana-9(11):12-dien-3ß-ol (7), and oleic acid (8). Their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses, and the structure of jolkinolide A (3) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Sureproceriolide A (1) showed modest activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus lugdunensis (MIC = 31.44 µM), and sitosterol (6) against the Gram-negative bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (IC50 = 45.37 µM). Jolkinolide A (3) and E (4) as well as sitosterol (6) inhibited the release of NOS (IMR-90 cells), TNF-α (HaCaT cells) and NF-κB (HaCaT cells), with IC50 values of 0.43, 3.21, and 10.32 µM, respectively. Compound 6 showed antitumoral activity against SK-MEL-28 (IC50 = 20.66 µM) and CCD-13Lu (IC50 = 24.70 µM) cell lines, with no cytotoxic effect against the prostate cells PrEC (CC50 > 300 µM).

Alienusolin, a new 4α-deoxyphorbol ester derivative, and crotonimide C, a new glutarimide alkaloid from the Kenyan Croton alienus.

Two novel compounds, alienusolin, a 4α-deoxyphorbol ester (1), crotonimide C, a glutarimide alkaloid derivative (2), and ten known compounds, julocrotine (3), crotepoxide (4), monodeacetyl crotepoxide (5), dideacetylcrotepoxide, (6), ß-senepoxide (7), α-senepoxide (8), (+)-(2S,3R-diacetoxy-1-benzoyloxymethylenecyclohex-4,6-diene (9), benzyl benzoate (10), acetyl aleuritolic (11), and 24-ethylcholesta-4,22-dien-3-one (12) were isolated from the Kenyan Croton alienus. The structures of the compounds were determined using NMR, GCMS, and HRESIMS studies.

A new gnidiflavanone-flavonol dimer and other constituents from Gnidia apiculata.

A new 3,8''-flavanone-flavonol dimer gnidiflavanone-flavonol (1) and 10 known compounds (2-11), including four rare primula-type flavones 2-5, were isolated from the roots of Gnidia apiculata. Compounds 2-5 and 7 were reported for the first time from the plant family Thymelaeceae. Structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC and ROESY) and mass spectrometry, as well as by the comparison with literature data. The crude roots extract and isolated compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities. Among isolated compounds, 6-hydroxyflavone (4) and 6-O-acetylflavone (4a) showed antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum.

Antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities of ent-abietane diterpenoids from the roots of Suregada zanzibariensis.

The root extract of Suregada zanzibariensis Baill. afforded six previously described ent-abietane diterpenoids, namely 7-oxo-ent-abieta-5(6),8(14),13(15)-trien-16,12-olide (1), mangiolide (2), 8,14ß:11,12α-diepoxy-13(15)-abietane-16,12-olide (3), 7ß,11ß,12ß-trihydroxy-ent-abieta-8(14),13(15)-diene-16,12-olide (4), 8α,14-dihydro-7-oxo-jolkinolide E (5), jolkinolide A (6), together with 3ß-sitosterol (7), scopoletin (8) and vanillin (9). Their structures were deduced through 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, and HRESIMS, as well as by comparison of the NMR data with those reported in the literature. The crude extract and compounds 1-9 were evaluated for their antiplasmodial, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Mangiolide (2) showed strong in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive (D6) and resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 0.79 and 0.87 µg/mL, respectively, while 3 (IC50 1.24 and 1.17 µg/mL) was less active than 2. Compound 2 also displayed antimicrobial activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) with IC50 values of 1.20, 3.90 and 7.20 µg/mL, respectively.

Synthesis of a pyrrolidine derivative of a carvotacetone and monoterpenes for anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and anti-cryptococcal properties.

Monoterpene derivatives are of great biological relevance in the pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, pyrrolidine derivative of a carvotacetone, 3-O-benzylcarvotacetone (1), and selected monoterpenes (3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone (3) and cis-piperitol (5)) were prepared to provide (R)-1-(4-(benzyloxy)-5-isopropyl-2-methylcyclohexa-1,3-dien-1-yl)-pyrrolidine (2), 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl acetate (4), cis-3-hydroxypiperitone (6) and carvacrol (7). Structure of 2 was determined based on NMR and HRMS spectral data. Compound 4 exhibited activity against fungi Cryptococcus neoformans with an IC50 value of < 0.8 µg/mL. In addition, this compound 4 had an IC50 value of 14.97 µg/mL against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Previous to the current study, both compound 6 and 7 had been reported to have anti-microbial and anti-fungal activities.

Synthesis, structural assignments and antiinfective activities of 3-O-benzyl-carvotacetone and 3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone.

In an attempt to synthesize carvotacetone analogues, new 3-O-benzyl-carvotacetone (10) and previously reported 3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone (11) were synthesized from piperitone (7). In this work, we describe the synthesis of 10 and other analogues from 7. Luche reduction of 7 to cis-piperitol (8), followed by benzylation yielded 3-O-benzyl-piperitol (9). Riley oxidation of 9 afforded corresponding ketone 10, 11 and 3-benzyloxy-4-isopropylcyclohex-1-enecarbaldehyde (12). Structures of these compounds were determined based on NMR, IR and LC-MS spectral data. Compound 11, exhibited antiplasmodial activities against chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 0.697 and 0.653 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, compound 11 was active against Cryptococcus neoformans with an IC50 value of 3.11 µg/mL, compared to reference standard fluconazole (IC50 value of 1.87 µg/mL), while 10 and 12 were inactive against both organisms. This is the first report of the antiplasmodial and anticryptococcal activity of compound 11.

Cytotoxicity of naturally occurring phenolics and terpenoids from Kenyan flora towards human carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer constitutes a major hurdle worldwide and its treatment mainly relies on chemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of eleven naturally occurring compounds including six phenolics amongst them were 4 chalcones and 2 flavanones as well as 5 terpenoids (3 clerodane and 2 trachylobane diterpenoids) against 6 human carcinoma cell lines and normal CRL2120 fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The neutral red uptake (NR) assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the compounds, whilst caspase-Glo assay was used to detect caspase activation. Cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were all analyzed via flow cytometry meanwhile levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Chalcones: 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxychalcone (1); 4',6'-dihydroxy-2',5'-dimethoxychalcone (2); 2',4',6'-trihydroxy-5'-methoxychalcone (3); 2',6'-diacetate-4'-methoxychalcone (4), trachylobane diterpenoids: 2,6,19-trachylobanetriol; (ent-2α,6α)-form (10) and 2,18,19-trachylobanetriol; (ent-2α)-form (11) as well as doxorubicin displayed IC50 values below 110 µM in the six tested cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of the most active compounds were between 6.30 µM and 46.23 µM for compound 1 respectively towards breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells and small lung cancer A549 cells and between 0.07 µM and 1.01 µM for doxorubicin respectively against SPC212 cells and A549 cells. Compounds 1 induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells mediated by increasing ROS production and MMP loss. CONCLUSION: Chalcones 1-3 are potential cytotoxic phytochemicals that deserve more investigations to develop novel anticancer drugs against human carcinoma.

Methyl and p-Bromobenzyl Esters of Hydrogenated Kaurenoic Acid for Controlling Anthracnose in Common Bean Plants.

Kaurenoic acid derivatives were prepared and submitted to in vitro assays with the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, which causes anthracnose disease in the common bean. The most active substances were found to be methyl and p-bromobenzylesters, 7 and 9, respectively, of the hydrogenated kaurenoic acid, which presented a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.097 and 0.131 mM, respectively, while the commercial fungicide methyl thiophanate (MT) presented a MIC of 0.143 mM. Substances 7 (1.401 mM) and 9 (1.886 mM) reduced the severity of anthracnose in common bean to values statistically comparable to MT (2.044 mM). According to an in silico study, both compounds 7 and 9 are inhibitors of the ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) enzyme produced by other organisms, the amino acid sequence of which could be detected in fungal genomes. These substances appeared to act against C. lindemuthianum by inhibiting its KSI. Therefore, substances 7 and 9 are promising for the development of new fungicides.

Diterpenoids from the roots of Croton dichogamus Pax.

Four previously undescribed diterpenoids including two crotofolanes, crotodichogamoin A and B, and two halimanes, crothalimene A and B, a new sesquiterpenoid, and fifteen previously reported compounds, including the crotofolane, crotohaumanoxide, the casbane, depressin, a further seven furanohalimane diterpenoids, three patchoulane and two further cadinane sesquiterpenoids and aleuritolic acid were isolated from the root of Croton dichogamus. Crotodichogamoin B is an important biosynthetic intermediate of the crotofolane class and this is the first report of patchoulene sesquiterpenoids from the genus. Compounds were tested at one concentration, 1 × 10-5 M, in the NCI59 cell one-dose screen but did not show significant activity snd were also evaluated for their cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cell lines using the neutral red assay. 10-epi-Maninsigin D reduced Caco-2 cell viability at 10, 30 and 100 µM, with values of decreased viability of 28%, 48% and 43% respectively. None of the other tested compounds showed significant activity.

Study of Anti-Tuberculosis Activity Behaviour of Natural Kaurane and Trachylobane Diterpenes Compared with Structural Properties Obtained by Theoretical Calculations.

A set of seven diterpenes, three kauranes and four trachylobanes, isolated from the African plant Psiadia punctulata were assayed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and reached activity comparable with cycloserine, a second line drug used to treat tuberculosis (TB). Several structural properties of those diterpenes, such as lipophilicity, HOMO and LUMO energies, charge density, and intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) formation, were obtained by theoretical calculations and compared with their activities. Peculiar correlations were observed, especially between activity, lipophilicity and IHB formation.

Three ent-trachylobane diterpenes from the leaf exudates of Psiadia punctulata.

Three ent-trachylobane diterpenes have been isolated from the leaf exudates of Psiadia punctulata and characterised as 6alpha,17,19-ent-trachylobantriol; 2alpha,18,19-ent-trachylobantriol; and 2beta,6alpha,18,19-ent-trachylobantetraol. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

Two unusual rotenoid derivatives, 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol and spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone, from the seeds of Derris trifoliata.

The crude methanol extract of the seeds of Derris trifoliata showed potent and dose dependent larvicidal activity against the 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. From this extract two unusual rotenoid derivatives, a rotenoloid (named 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol) and a spirohomooxarotenoid (named spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone), were isolated and characterised. In addition a rare natural chromanone (6,7-dimethoxy-4-chromanone) and the known rotenoids rotenone, tephrosin and dehydrodeguelin were identified. The structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The larvicidal activity of the crude extract is mainly due to rotenone.

Compounds from Terminalli brownii Extracts with Toxicity against the Fish Pathogenic Bacterium Flavobacterium columnare.

The pond-raised channel catfish (Ictaluruspunctatus) industry in the United States of America can incur losses of over a $100 million annually due to bacterial diseases including columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium columnare. One management approach available to catfish producers is the use of medicated- feed containing antibiotics. However, the negative attributes of antibiotic use in agriculture include public concerns and the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, the discovery of environmentally-safe natural compounds for use as therapeutic agents would greatly benefit the catfish industry. In this study, a rapid bioassay was used to evaluate crude plant extracts as the first step in the discovery of natural therapeutants. Plant extracts from Terminalia brownii were found to be inhibitory towards F. columnare. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 5% water-methanol extract ofT. brownii (stem bark) was 10 µg/mL and the 24 h 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) was 40 pg/mL. Subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation of the T. brownR ethanol extract using reverse phase C-4 chromatography revealed the highest level of activity in the aqueous:methanol (50:50) fraction. HPLC analysis and subsequent purification of this fraction provided two compounds identified as ellagic acid (1) and 4-O-(3",4"-di-O-galloyl-a-L-rhamnopyrahosyl)ellagic acid (2). Compound 2 was the most active isolated compound, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 10±0 µg/mL and 24 h IC(50) of 31±1 µg/mL. Although 1 was more active according to a MIC of 6±5 µg/mL, its 24 h IC(50) was >100 µg/mL, and, therefore, it was less active overall of the two most active isolated compounds.

Cytotoxicity of Plumbagin, Rapanone and 12 other naturally occurring Quinones from Kenyan Flora towards human carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major public health concern globally and chemotherapy remains the principal mode of the treatment of various malignant diseases. METHODS: This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxicity of 14 naturally occurring quinones including; 3 anthraquinones, 1 naphthoquinone and 10 benzoquinones against 6 human carcinoma cell lines and normal CRL2120 fibroblasts. The neutral red uptake (NR) assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the compounds, whilst caspase-Glo assay was used to detect caspases activation. Cell cycle and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were all analyzed via flow cytometry meanwhile levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Anthraquinone: emodin (2), naphthoquinone: plumbagin (4), and benzoquinones: rapanone (9), 2,5-dihydroxy-3-pentadecyl-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione (10), 5-O-methylembelin (11), 1,2,4,5-tetraacetate-3-methyl-6-(14-nonadecenyl)-cyclohexadi-2,5-diene (13), as well as doxorubicin displayed interesting activities with IC50 values below 100 µM in the six tested cancer cell lines. The IC50 values ranged from 37.57 µM (towards breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells) to 99.31 µM (towards small cell lung cancer A549 cells) for 2, from 0.06 µM (MCF-7 cells) to 1.14 µM (A549 cells) for 4, from 2.27 µM (mesothelioma SPC212 cells) to 46.62 µM (colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD-1 cells) for 9, from 8.39 µM (SPC212 cells) to 48.35 µM (hepatocarinoma HepG2 cells) for 10, from 22.57 µM (MCF-7 cells) to 61.28 µM (HepG2 cells) for 11, from 9.25 µM (MCF-7 cells) to 47.53 µM (A549 cells) for 13, and from 0.07 µM (SPC212 cells) to 1.01 µM (A549 cells) for doxorubicin. Compounds 4 and 9 induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells mediated by increased ROS production and MMP loss, respectively. CONCLUSION: The tested natural products and mostly 2, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 13 are potential cytotoxic compounds that deserve more investigations towards developing novel antiproliferative drugs against human carcinoma.

Antibacterial activities and structure-activity relationships of a panel of 48 compounds from Kenyan plants against multidrug resistant phenotypes.

In the current study forty eight compounds belonging to anthraquinones, naphthoquinones, benzoquinones, flavonoids (chalcones and polymethoxylated flavones) and diterpenoids (clerodanes and kauranes) were explored for their antimicrobial potential against a panel of sensitive and multi-drug resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determinations on the tested bacteria were conducted using modified rapid INT colorimetric assay. To evaluate the role of efflux pumps in the susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria to the most active compounds, they were tested in the presence of phenylalanine arginine ß-naphthylamide (PAßN) (at 30 µg/mL) against selected multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria. The anthraquinone, emodin, naphthaquinone, plumbagin and the benzoquinone, rapanone were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains of bacteria with MIC values ranging from 2 to 128 µg/mL. The structure activity relationships of benzoquinones against the MDR Gram-negative phenotype showed antibacterial activities increasing with increase in side chain length. In the chalcone series the presence of a hydroxyl group at C3' together with a methoxy group and a second hydroxyl group in meta orientation in ring B of the chalcone skeleton appeared to be necessary for minimal activities against MRSA. In most cases, the optimal potential of the active compounds were not attained as they were extruded by bacterial efflux pumps. However, the presence of the PAßN significantly increased the antibacterial activities of emodin against Gram-negative MDR E. coli AG102, 100ATet; K. pneumoniae KP55 and KP63 by >4-64 g/mL. The antibacterial activities were substantially enhanced and were higher than those of the standard drug, chloramphenicol. These data clearly demonstrate that the active compounds, having the necessary pharmacophores for antibacterial activities, including some quinones and chalcones are substrates of bacterial efflux pumps and therefore should be combined to efflux pump inhibitors in the fight against MDR bacterial infections.

Cytotoxicity of 91 Kenyan indigenous medicinal plants towards human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plants from Kenyan flora are traditionally used against many ailments, including cancer and related diseases. Cancer is characterized as a condition with complex signs and symptoms. Recently there are recommendations that ethnopharmacological usages such as immune and skin disorders, inflammatory, infectious, parasitic and viral diseases should be taken into account when selecting plants that treat cancer. AIM: The present study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity of a plethora of 145 plant parts from 91 medicinal plants, most of which are used in the management of cancer and related diseases by different communities in Kenya, against CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts from different plant parts (leaves, stems, stem bark, roots, root barks, aerial parts and whole herb) were obtained by cold percolation using different solvent systems, such as (1:1v/v) dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) and n-hexane (1), methanol (MeOH) and CH2Cl2 (2); neat MeOH (3), 5% H2O in MeOH (4) and with ethanol (EtOH, 5); their cytotoxicities were determined using the resazurin reduction assay against CCRF-CEM cells. RESULTS: At a single concentration of 10µg/mL, 12 out of 145 extracts exhibited more than 50% cell inhibition. These include samples from the root bark of Erythrina sacleuxii (extracted with 50% n-hexane-CH2Cl2), the leaves of Albizia gummifera, and Strychnos usambarensis, the stem bark of Zanthoxylum gilletii, Bridelia micrantha, Croton sylvaticus, and Albizia schimperiana; the root bark of Erythrina burttii and E. sacleuxii (extracted with 50% CH2Cl2-MeOH), the stem bark of B. micrantha and Z. gilletii (extracted using 5% MeOH-H2O) and from the berries of Solanum aculeastrum (extracted with neat EtOH). The EtOH extract of the berries of S. aculeastrum and A. schimperiana stem bark extract displayed the highest cytotoxicity towards leukemia CCRF-CEM cells, with IC50 values of 1.36 and 2.97µg/mL, respectively. Other extracts having good activities included the extracts of the stem barks of Z. gilletii and B. micrantha and leaves of S. usambarensis with IC50 values of 9.04, 9.43 and 11.09µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provided information related to the possible use of some Kenyam medicinal plants, and mostly S. aculeastrum, A. schimperiana, C. sylvaticus, Z. gilletii, B. micrantha and S. usambarensis in the treatment of leukemia. The reported data helped to authenticate the claimed traditional use of these plants. However, most plants are used in combination as traditional herbal concoctions. Hence, the cytotoxicity of corresponding plant combinations should be tested in vitro to authenticate the traditional medical practitioners actual practices.

Antimicrobial flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina burttii.

The chloroform extract of the stem bark of Erythrina burttii showed antifungal and antibacterial activities using the disk diffusion method. Flavonoids were identified as the active principles. Activities were observed against fungi and Gram(+) bacteria, but the Gram(-) bacteria Escherichia coli was resistant.

Diterpenoid derivatives of Kenyan Croton sylvaticus.

Kenyan Croton sylvaticus Hochst. ex Krauss gave four clerodane diterpenoids, the new ent-3,13E-clerodadiene-15-formate (1), the known 15-acetoxy-ent-3,13E-clerodadiene (2), ent-3,13E-clerodadien-15-ol (3) and hardwickiic acid (4), two known halimane diterpenoids, penduliflaworosin (5) and crotohalimaneic acid (6) and one labdane diterpenoid, labda-13E-ene-8a,15-diol (7). The compounds, when tested for their anti-microbial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas campestris and Candida albicans, were found to be inactive.

Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of the constituents of Turraea robusta and Turraea nilotica.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Turraea robusta and Turraea nilotica are African medicinal plants used for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases, including malaria. The genus Turraea is rich in limonoids and other triterpenoids known to possess various biological activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the stem bark of T. robusta six compounds, and from various parts of T. nilotica eleven compounds were isolated by the use of a combination of chromatographic techniques. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using NMR and MS, whilst the relative configuration of one of the isolated compounds, toonapubesin F, was established by X-ray crystallography. The antiplasmodial activities of the crude extracts and the isolated constituents against the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum were determined using the semiautomated micro dilution technique that measures the ability of the extracts to inhibit the incorporation of (G-(3)H, where G is guanine) hypoxanthine into the malaria parasite. The cytotoxicity of the crude extracts and their isolated constituents was evaluated against the mammalian cell lines African monkey kidney (vero), mouse breast cancer (4T1) and human larynx carcinoma (HEp2). RESULTS: The extracts showed good to moderate antiplasmodial activities, where the extract of the stem bark of T. robusta was also cytotoxic against the 4T1 and the HEp2 cells (IC50<10 µg/ml). The compounds isolated from these extracts were characterized as limonoids, protolimonoids and phytosterol glucosides. These compounds showed good to moderate activities with the most active one being azadironolide, IC50 2.4 ± 0.03 µM and 1.1 ± 0.01 µM against the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively; all other compounds possessed IC50 14.4-40.5 µM. None of the compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against vero cells, yet four of them were toxic against the 4T1 and HEp2 cancer cell lines with piscidinol A having IC50 8.0 ± 0.03 and 8.4 ± 0.01 µM against the 4T1 and HEp2 cells, respectively. Diacetylation of piscidinol A resulted in reduced cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: From the medicinal plants T. robusta and T. nilotica, twelve compounds were isolated and characterized; two of the isolated compounds, namely 11-epi-toonacilin and azadironolide showed good antiplasmodial activity with the highest selectivity indices.