title: Isoquinolines from the roots of Thalictrum flavum L. and their evaluation as antiparasitic compounds.
abstract: Alkaloids from Thalictrum flavum L. (Ranuculaceae) growing in the Loire valley (France) were isolated and evaluated for their antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal activities. Berberine was identified as a major component but its analogue, pseudoberberine, was isolated for the first time from this plant. As far as bisbenzylisoquinolines are concerned, thalfoetidine was also isolated and, besides, its nor- derivative, northalfoetidine, was identified as a new compound. Previously isolated alkaloids from Thalictrum species such as northalidasine, northalrugosidine, thaligosidine, thalicberine, thaliglucinone, preocoteine, O-methylcassythine and armepavine were newly described in the roots of T. flavum. Tertiary isoquinolines, and particularly bisbenzylisoquinolines, were found to be leishmanicidal against L. major. Thalfoetidine appeared as the most potent but its new nor- derivative northalfoetidine, as well as northalidasine, were of particular interest due to the fact that their potential leishmanicidal activity was not associated to a strong cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Substances d'Origine Naturelle et Analogues Structuraux, UPRES-EA 921, IFR 149 QUASAV, UFR des Sciences pharmaceutiques et ingénierie de la santé, Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ropivia
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derbré
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rouger
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagniez
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Pape
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richomme
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001599:Berberine / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D031949:Thalictrum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D007546:Isoquinolines; D001599:Berberine