Evaluation of the in vitro trypanocidal activity of methylated flavonoid constituents of Vitex simplicifolia leaves

Background Trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease with complex clinical manifestations, tedious diagnosis, and difficult treatments. The drugs available for the treatment of this endemic disease are old, expensive, and associated with other problems including safety and drug resistant parasites. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new, effective, cheap, and safe drugs for its treatment. Plants are potentially rich sources of leads for new drugs against trypanosomiasis. Vitex simplicifolia (Verbenaceae) is used traditionally for the treatment of tooth ache, edema, skin diseases, gout and trypanosomiasis in Nigeria. In a preliminary study, the methanol extract of Vitex simplicifolia was shown to exhibit a pronounced trypanocidal activity against T. b. rhodesiense. The present study was undertaken to investigate the active component responsible for the acclaimed activity of the leaves of Vitex simplicifolia in the traditional treatment of trypanosomiasis in Nigeria and other African countries. Our investigations aim at assessing the plant as a new source of potential trypanocidal compounds.