title: Ursolic acid as a trypanocidal constituent in rosemary.
abstract: The MeOH extract of the leaves of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) completely inhibited the motility of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi at the concentration of 2 mg/ml after 2 h of incubation. Activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract has resulted in the isolation of three triterpene acids, betulinic, oleanolic and ursolic acids. Ursolic acid stopped the movement of all T. cruzi epimastigotes at the minimum concentration (MC(100)) of 40 micro g/ml (88 micro M) after 48 h of incubation. Oleanolic acid was less active (MC(100): 250 micro g/ml, 550 micro M) and betulinic acid was practically inactive.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Tsuneatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Junei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Higo
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akahane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D000097245:Ursolic Acid