Montrichardia linifera is an aquatic plant widely use in Amazon folkmedicine. However, very little is known about the chemical composition and biological activity. In search of biologically active (s) substance (s) phytochemical bioassay-guided study was conducted evaluating hexane extract and ethanol extract obtained from stems of this species. Since only the ethanol extract presented toxicity against Artemia salina and activity against Plasmodium falciparum, this extract was selected for chromatographic fractionation. The biological activities were concentred in dichloromethane fraction which showed high toxicity against A. saline (LD50< μg mL-1) and high antiplasmodial activity (IC50 <10 μg mL-1), showing promising antimalarial activity. Of this fraction, the aromatic compound p-hydroxybenzaldehyde was isolated for the first time in this plant.
Montrichardia linifera; toxicity on Artemia salina; antiplasmodial activity
