APPLICATION OF FERRIPROTOPORPHYRIN BIOCRYSTALLIZATION INHIBITION TEST TO FIND ANTIPLASMODIAL COMPOUNDS IN THE FLORA OF THE "ZONGO VALLEY" - BOLIVIA

ABSTRACT Among the different tests or chemical reactions that explain the possible inhibition mechanisms of Plasmodium falciparum growth, we have chosen the Ferriprotoporphyrin biocrystallization inhibition test (FBIT) to evaluate the pharmacological properties of 65 plants from the Bolivian flora. A bioguided phytochemical separation of Brachyotum microdon, one of the most active plant, was sought using the FBIT test. The isolated active compounds belong to two types of metabolites the fatty alcohols and the triterpenes. Among the triterpenes, we have p-sitosterol (1), oleanolic acid (2), ursolic acid (3) and corosolic acid (4) as sources of the activity on FBIT.