Bioassay-guided isolation of antiplasmodial anacardic acids derivatives from the whole plants of Viola websteri Hemsl

Abstract

The petroleum ether extract of Viola websteri Hemsl. (Violaceae) was investigated for its activity against chloroquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay method. The main antiplasmodial principles, 6-(8'Z-pentadecenyl)-salicylic acid (1) and 6-(8'Z, 11'Z, 14'Z-heptadecatrienyl)-salicylic acid (2), have been isolated from V. websteri for the first time. This is the first report on the antiplasmodial activity of the compounds from V. websteri.