The current study was conducted to isolate the phytoconstituents from Erythrina senegalensis leaves and stem bark and evaluate their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, digestive enzyme related to diabetes mellitus. Phytochemical investigation of the leaves resulted in the isolation of three saponins (3–5), two triterpenoids (7 and 8) and two steroids (10a and 10b) as inseparable mixture, while one saponin (6), one triterpenoid (9) and one mixture of two cinnamates (2a and 2b) were isolated from the stem bark. Except for compounds 2 b, 7, 8, 10a and 10 b all the isolated compounds are reported here for the first time from the genus Erythrina. Acetylation of the mixture of two cinnamates (2a and 2b) led to a new diester derivative (1) trivially called erythrinamate. The extracts and pure compounds (3, 4, 6) showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity compared to the standard drug acarbose. The findings suggest that saponins of E. senegalensis could be used to develop potential anti-hyperglycemic drugs. Graphical Abstract

Background: Terminalia macroptera (Combretaceae) is an important medicinal plant in the traditional pharmacopeia in most tropical areas, where its different parts are used in treating illnesses including cancer. Aims: In this study, two oleanane‐type triterpenoids: terminolic acid (TM32) and arjungenin (TM34), together with three saponins: arjunglucoside I (TM35), 24‐deoxysericoside (TM36) and chebuloside II (TM37) from T. macroptera , were screened for their cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines. Methods and Results: The compounds were isolated using column chromatography and characterized from their NMR data. Their cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against estrogen non‐sensitive (MDA‐MB 231) and estrogen sensitive (MCF‐7) breast cancer cell lines were evaluated. Against estrogen non‐sensitive (MDA‐MB 231) cancer cell lines, deoxysericoside (TM36) was profoundly active compared to the control. Terminolic acid (TM32), arjungenin (TM34), and arjunglucoside I (TM35) were also active. Against estrogen sensitive (MCF‐7) breast cancer cell lines, deoxysericoside (TM36) exhibited significant activity ( p < 0.05) compared to control experiments. The most active compound had an optimum concentration of 30 μg/mL. Deoxysericoside (TM36) showed concentration‐dependent inhibition percentages at 15 and 30 μg/mL, and MDA‐MB 231 breast carcinoma cells were more susceptible. MDA‐MB 231 treated with 15 and 30 μg/mL of deoxysericoside (TM36) showed significant reduction ( p < 0.05) in clone formation after 48 h when compared to untreated controls, suggesting that it can restrict cancer to a preliminary stage. The deoxysericoside (TM36) reduced cell migration with dose‐dependent improvement in wound healing at 15 and 30 μg/mL, revealed by the micrographs. Molecular docking indicated that the compounds fit well into hERα and PI3Kα receptor binding sites, forming stable complexes with binding energies in ranges of −9.04 to −5.02 kcal mol ⁻¹ (hERα receptor) and −8.84 to −5.97 kcal mol ⁻¹ (PI3Kα receptor). The compounds exhibited appreciable drug likeness predicted using SwissADME. Conclusion: The studies showed that the isolated compounds could be used for the development of anticancer therapies.

Plasmodium falciparum is one of the parasites responsible for malaria, a serious and potentially deadly disease. Mitragyna inermis, a plant used to treat malaria in Africa, shows antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. Its extracts may target Lactate Dehydrogenase and Protein Kinase G, two enzymes crucial for the parasite’s survival, but the impact of certain pure molecules such as quinovic acid glycosides on these enzymes remains to be determined. To isolate, characterize and evaluate M. inermis compounds for their potential to inhibit Plasmodium LDH and cGMP-dependent protein kinase enzymes through experimental and computational approaches. Phytochemical investigation was conducted using chromatographic techniques, and compounds structures were elucidated by ESI-MS and comprehensive 1&2D NMR analyses. Antiplasmodial activity was assessed on Dd2/3D7 mutant strains. In silico analyses included molecular docking, ADMET prediction, and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations against LDH and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Five compounds were isolated and structurally characterized from the stem bark of M. inermis: quinovic acid 3-O-β-D-fucopyranoside (1), quinovic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quinovic acid 3-O-β-D-fucopyranosyl-(28→1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), olean-12-ene-3β,19β,24-triol (4), and lupeol-3-O-undecanoate (5). Compounds 4 and 5 are reported for the first time from the genus Mitragyna. Compound 3 demonstrated the highest antiplasmodial activity against both PfDd2 and Pf3D7 strains, and exhibited the strongest binding affinity toward PfLDH (−8.2 kcal/mol). MD simulations further confirmed the stability of the C3_PfLDH complex throughout the 100 ns simulation period. These results provide phytochemical and pharmacological support for the ethnomedical use of M. Inermis stem bark for malaria treatment and expand the chemotaxonomic knowledge of the genus Mitragyna.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent malaria parasite, continues to develop resistance to available drugs. Mitragyna inermis (Rubiaceae) is traditionally used in Africa for the treatment of malaria and has shown antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. Previous studies on this plant and related species (M. speciosa, M. ciliata) have focused on crude extracts and indole alkaloids, reporting moderate antiplasmodial activity, but the specific contribution of pure quinovic acid glycosides, the major triterpenes glycosides of M. inermis stem bark, to antiplasmodial activity and to inhibition of key parasite enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) and protein kinase G (PfPKG) has never been evaluated. Objective: The present study aimed to isolate and characterize compounds from the stem bark of M. inermis and to evaluate their antiplasmodial activity against Pf3D7 and PfDd2 strains and their binding potential to PfLDH and PfPKG through experimental and computational approaches. Methods: Phytochemical investigation was conducted using column chromatography, and structures were elucidated by ESI-MS and 1/2D NMR spectroscopy. Antiplasmodial activity was assessed against chloroquine-sensitive (Pf3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (PfDd2) strains of P. falciparum. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations targeting PfLDH and PfPKG were performed. Results: Five compounds were isolated and identified as quinovic acid 3-O-β-D-fucopyranoside (1), quinovic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), quinovic acid 3β-O-β-D-fucopyranosyl-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), olean-12-ene-3β,19β,24-triol (4), and lupeol-3-O-undecanoate (5). Compounds 4 and 5 are reported for the first time from the genus Mitragyna. Compound 3 exhibited the highest antiplasmodial activity against both PfDd2 (35.86 ± 0.83 μM) and Pf3D7 (29.89 ± 3.91 μM) strains, and showed the strongest binding affinity toward PfLDH (−8.2 kcal/mol). MD simulations confirmed the stability of the C3_PfLDH complex throughout the 100 ns simulation period. Conclusions: Compounds 1–4 displayed moderate in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Pf3D7 and PfDd2, with compound 3 being the most active among the isolated constituents. Docking and molecular-dynamics analyses suggested stable interactions of selected compounds with PfLDH and the PfPKG N-terminal cGMP-binding domain. However, these computational findings do not establish direct enzyme inhibition. The results support further investigation of M. inermis triterpenoids as phytochemical scaffolds, including cytotoxicity/selectivity testing, direct target-based assays and structural optimization.