Investigation of antiplasmodial efficacy of lupeol and ursolic acid isolated fromFicus benjaminaleaves extract

This study emphasizes on the investigation of antiplasmodial activity of triterpenoids isolated fromFicus benjaminaleaves. An unsaponified fraction of petroleum ether extract of plant leaves was subjected to silica gel column chromatography which led to the isolation of two known triterpenoids; namely ursolic acid and lupeol. These compounds were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity by schizont maturation inhibition assay using 3D7 Plasmodium strains. Both, ursolic acid and lupeol were found to exhibit significant antiplasmodial effect with an IC(50)value of 18 mu g/ml and 3.8 mu g/ml, respectively. This study further confirms the traditional role ofFicus benjaminaplant in the treatment of malaria which may be attributed to ursolic acid and lupeol.