The antiplasmodial and radical scavenging activities of flavonoids of Erythrina burttii

Burttinol A (1) and burttinol D (4), among other flavonoids, have been identified as the antiplasmodial and radical scavenging principles in the roots of Erythrina burttii. [Display omitted] ► The root bark extract of Erythrina burttii showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity. ► The root bark extract of Erythrina burttii showed Radical scavenging activity against DPPH radical. ► Flavonoids were identified as the active antiplasmodial and free radical scavenging principles. ► The extracts of E. burttii, E. abyssinica and E. sacleuxii showed in vivo antimalarial activities. The acetone extract of the root bark of Erythrina burttii showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 0.97±0.2 and 1.73±0.5μg/ml respectively. The extract also had radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical with an EC50 value of 12.0μg/ml. The isoflav-3-enes burttinol-A and burttinol-C, and the 2-arylbenzofuran derivative burttinol-D were identified as the most active antiplasmodial (IC50