Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of Striga asiatica and Sauropus spatulifolius extracts, and their isolated constituents

[Display omitted] ► Three new compounds (6–8) were isolated from the leaves of Sauropus spatulifolius. ► The relative configuration of 8 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. ► Antimalarial and cytotoxic activity of Striga asiatica and Sauropus spatulifolius were first evaluated for antimalarial and cytotoxic activities. A phytochemical investigation of Striga asiatica and the leaves of Sauropus spatulifolius revealed seventeen compounds, three of which were reported for the first time from nature, i.e. two alkaloids N-hydroxyethyl-2-acetylpyrrole, N-(3-carboxypropyl)-2-acetylpyrrole, and 2-(4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)acetic acid, for which the name sauropic acid was adopted. Their structures were established spectroscopically and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All extracts and isolates were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strain K1 and for cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells.