Cryptolepine hydrochloride: a potent antimycobacterial alkaloid derived from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta.
The activity of cryptolepine hydrochloride, a salt of the main indoloquinoline alkaloid from the West African medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, was assessed against the fast growing mycobacterial species Mycobacterium fortuitum, which has recently been shown to be of use in the evaluation of antitubercular drugs. The low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of this compound (16 microg/mL) prompted further evaluation against other fast growing mycobacteria namely, M. phlei, M. aurum, M. smegmatis, M. bovis BCG and M. abcessus and the MICs ranged over 2-32 microg/mL for these species. The strong activity of this agent, the need for new antibiotics with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, coupled with the ethnobotanical use of C. sanguinolenta extracts to treat infections, highlight the potential of the cryptolepine template for development of antimycobacterial agents.
Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK. simon.gibbons@ulsop.ac.uk
Simon
S
Gibbons
Fatemeh
F
Fallah
Colin W
CW
Wright
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031106:Cryptolepis; D006801:Humans; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000470:Alkaloids; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles; D011804:Quinolines; C024015:cryptolepine