title: Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species.
abstract: The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species and the exudate of P. flexuosa were assessed for DNA binding, beta-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging effect using the DPPH decoloration assay. DNA binding effect was found mainly in the basic fraction. The alkaloids tryptamine as well as piperidine and phenethylamine derivatives were isolated from the basic extracts. At 0.50 mg/ml, DNA binding activities ranged from 28% for tryptamine to 0-27% for the phenethylamine and 47-54% for the piperidine derivatives. Tryptamine and 2-beta-methyl-3-beta-hydroxy-6-beta-piperidinedodecanol showed a moderate inhibition (27-32%) of the enzyme beta-glucosidase at 100 microg/ml. The exudate of P. flexuosa displayed a strong free radical scavenger effect in the DPPH decoloration assay. The main active constituent was identified as catechin.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Avda. Ignacio de La Roza 230 Oeste, 5400, San Juan, Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egly Feresin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bustos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Astudillo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Theoduloz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmeda-Hirschmann
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001118:Argentina; D015764:Bepridil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002392:Catechin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010851:Picrates; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010851:Picrates; D015764:Bepridil; D002392:Catechin; D004247:DNA; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001617:beta-Glucosidase