Antiplasmodial activity of atisinium chloride from the Bhutanese medicinal plant, Aconitum orochryseum.
BACKGROUND
The plant Aconitum orochryseum Stapf. (Ranunculaceae) is employed together with other plants in Bhutanese traditional medicine and is indicated for malaria-associated fever.


OBJECTIVE
To study the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of atisinium chloride, the major alkaloid from Aconitum orochryseum.


METHODS
Atisinium chloride was extracted and purified from aerial parts of Aconitum orochryseum and its structure and absolute configuration confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The crude methanol extract, crude alkaloid fraction, and atisinium chloride were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the malarial Plasmodium falciparum strains TM4/8.2 (TM4; wild type) and K1CB1 (K1; chloroquine and antifolate resistant).


RESULTS
The diterpenoid alkaloid atisinium chloride was shown to have moderate antiplasmodial activities with IC(50) values of 4 microM and 3.6 microM, respectively against the TM4 strain and the K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum.


CONCLUSIONS
Our studies provide the first evidence in support of one of the indicated treatments with Aconitum orochryseum in Bhutanese traditional medicine. This alkaloid also represents a potential new antimalarial structural lead.
Wangchuk
Phurpa
P
School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Bremner
John B
JB
Samten
Skelton
Brian W
BW
White
Allan H
AH
Rattanajak
Roonglawan
R
Kamchonwongpaisan
Sumalee
S
D031841:Aconitum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001631:Bhutan; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
D000470:Alkaloids; D000962:Antimalarials; D004224:Diterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C509541:atisinium chloride