Analysis of Alkaloids Compounds and Antimalarial Activity of Coleus amboinicus Leaves from Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.11508Keywords:
Antimalarial assay, Coleus amboinicus, EECAL, Molecular docking, Plasmodium falciparum, Antimalarial assay, Coleus amboinicus, Molecular docking, Plasmodium falciparumAbstract
Malaria is still considered a major health problem and has a high number of death cases in developing countries. In addition, it is exacerbated by the emergence of resistance to available malaria drugs that encourages the discovery of potential alternative drugs that do not cause resistance and provide better efficacy. There are ten nitrogen compounds belonging to the alkaloid group contained in the ethanolic extract of C. amboinicus leaves that have been identified, studied and correlated with their potential as antimalarials in vitro and molecular docking. In vitro studies of the ethanolic extract of C. amboinicus leaves tested on P. falciparum strain 3D7 and FCR3 parasites provided inhibition with activity values (IC50) of 13.176 ± 0.006 µg/mL (SI 38.024 ± 0.005) and 49.683 ± 0.007 µg/mL (SI 10.084 ± 0.001), respectively. The results of molecular docking studies of ten N compounds, compounds (4) and (8), showed better binding affinity to the falciparum-2 receptor with binding energy (‒6.5 kcal/mol) and better than chloroquine (‒5.8 kcal/mol) and native ligand (‒6.0 kcal/mol). Each compound contained in the ethanolic extract of C. amboinicus leaves provides potential antimalarial activity by inhibiting the falciparum-2 receptor. Based on the research data obtained, it provides more supporting evidence for the traditional use of the ethanolic extract of C. amboinicus leaves in traditional malaria treatment, and in the future, it provides hope for its development as a more potential antimalarial agent.
HIGHLIGHTS
- This is the first report on the antimalarial activity of the ethanolic extract of amboinicus leaves originating from North Sumatra, Indonesia.
- The ethanolic extract consists of alkaloid compounds 1.043 ± 0.001 mg CE/g d.w. ethanolic extract.
- The ethanolic extract demonstrated potential antimalarial activity based on in vitro testing on falciparum strains 3D7 and FCR3.
- Molecular docking studies of ten nitrogen-containing compounds (alkaloids) in the ethanolic extract showed the potential to exert antimalarial activity and inhibit the malaria receptor falcipain-2.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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