Recent research has brought Funtumia elastica, a tree found in Africa, into the spotlight for its potential to fight parasitic diseases. This tree, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family, has long been known for its various uses, but scientists are now discovering that it may contain compounds with medicinal properties that could help combat Leishmania donovani, the parasite responsible for leishmaniasis, a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

A New Compound: Funtulaticamide

The study, published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology (February 2023), focused on the trunk bark of Funtumia elastica. The researchers discovered a brand-new compound, named funtulaticamide, which is a type of lipid (fat) molecule called a ceramide. Ceramides are important in various biological processes, and this type of ceramide had never been found in this plant before. This discovery could have implications for developing new treatments for diseases.

Along with funtulaticamide, six other compounds were identified, including funtulatine, epicatechin (an antioxidant found in tea and chocolate), and myricetin (a substance known for its anti-inflammatory properties). Five of these compounds had not been reported before in this particular plant, making this a significant finding.

Fighting Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite, which is spread by sandflies. It can cause severe skin sores and, in some cases, damage internal organs. Current treatments can be harsh, expensive, and not always effective, especially with drug-resistant parasites becoming more common.

In this study, the compound funtulatine was tested in a laboratory setting (in vitro) to see how it affected the Leishmania donovani parasite. The results showed that funtulatine had a moderate ability to stop the parasite from growing, with a concentration of 15.9 μM being enough to inhibit 50% of the parasite. While it’s not the most powerful treatment available, it’s a promising starting point for further research that could improve its effectiveness.

Why Is this Important?

Beyond the potential for treating leishmaniasis, the discovery of these compounds helps scientists understand more about the plant family to which Funtumia elastica belongs. This study contributes to chemotaxonomy, which is the science of classifying plants based on their chemical makeup. Knowing which chemicals a plant produces can help researchers figure out how different plants are related and how their chemical properties evolved.

One of the compounds, 5-hydroxypyridine-3-carboxamide, was found in the Apocynaceae family for the first time, adding new information to what scientists know about this group of plants.

What’s Next?

While this research is still in the early stages, it opens the door to further exploration of Funtumia elastica's potential as a source of new treatments. The discovery of funtulatine and its moderate ability to fight the parasite is just the beginning. Future studies could refine this compound to make it more effective or uncover other useful substances in the plant.

This study offers hope that compounds from Funtumia elastica could one day help treat diseases like leishmaniasis, which continues to affect many people around the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.

For more details, see the full study:
"Funtulaticamide, a phytosphingosine-type ceramide from Funtumia elastica Preuss Stapf. (Apocynaceae) trunk bark with potential antileishmanial activity," published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, February 2023.
The research was conducted by Larissa Kom Ma’mag and her colleagues from institutions in Cameroon and Belgium.