Strychnogucines A and B, two new antiplasmodial bisindole alkaloids from Strychnos icaja.
A reinvestigation of Strychnos icaja roots has resulted in the isolation of two tertiary quasi-symmetric bisindole alkaloids named strychnogucines A (1) and B (2). Their structures were identified by means of spectroscopic data interpretation. Compound 2 was highly active in vitro and compound 1 moderately active against four strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Strychnogucine B (2) was more active against a chloroquine-resistant strain than against a chloroquine-sensitive one (best CI(50), 80 nM against the W2 strain). In addition, this compound showed a selective antiplasmodial activity with 25-180 times greater toxicity toward P. falciparum, relative to cultured human cancer cells (KB) or human fibroblasts (WI38).
Frédérich
M
M
Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Liège, CHU, Tour 4, Avenue de l'Hôpital 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. M.Frederich@ulg.ac.be
De Pauw
M
M
Prosperi
C
C
Tits
M
M
Brandt
V
V
Penelle
J
J
Hayette
M
M
DeMol
P
P
Angenot
L
L
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013331:Strychnine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000470:Alkaloids; D000962:Antimalarials; C428163:strychnogucine A; C428164:strychnogucine B; D013331:Strychnine