Antiprotozoal Compounds from Asparagus africanus

Abstract

Two antiprotozoal compounds have been isolated from the roots of Asparagus africanus Lam. (Liliaceae), a new sapogenin, 2 beta, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-(25R)-spirosta-4,7-dien-3-one (1), which was named muzanzagenin, and the lignan (+)-nyasol (2), (Z)-(+)-4,4'-(3-ethenyl-1-propene-1,3-diyl)-bisphenol. The structure of the sapogenin was elucidated by MS and by 1D and 2D NMR methods and established by a single crystal X-ray analysis. (+)-Nyasol potently inhibits the growth of Leishmania major promastigotes, the IC50 being 12 microM, and moderately inhibits Plasmodium falciparum schizonts with the IC50 49 microM. These concentrations only moderately affect the proliferation of human lymphocytes. Muzanzagenin showed a moderate in vitro activity in all three tests, the IC50 against leishmania promastigotes was 70 microM, and against four different malaria schizont strains the IC50 values were 16, 163, 23, and 16 microM, respectively.

Communiols E−H: New Polyketide Metabolites from the Coprophilous Fungus Podospora communis

“…Parallel studies of another isolate of P. communis (JS 349) obtained from a sample of horse dung collected in Ecuador led to the isolation of previously reported communiols B (5) and D (6), as well as communiol G (3).…”

“…A strong NOESY correlation of H-5 to H-11 supported the proposed cis relationship between these two protons, as did the vicinal coupling constant of 7.5 Hz between H-5 and H-11, which matches previously reported values for analogous cis protons in structures that incorporate similar ring fusions. [5][6][7] As in the case of 6, the relative stereochemistry at C-7 and C-8 could not be assigned by application of Born's rule. 1,8,9 However, it was presumed to have the same relative stereochemistry as communiols A-D at these positions on the basis of the similarity of the H7-H8 coupling constant (J H-H ) 3.6 Hz) to that observed for other communiols.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Euplotin C, the Sesquiterpene Taxonomic Marker from the Marine Ciliate Euplotes crassus

“…A leishmanicidal activity was also shown by the living, euplotin-producing cells of E. crassus cultured together with promastigotes; this activity increased with time from 10 min to 6 h of incubation. This study provides an initial rationale for the evaluation of euplotin C and other similar natural products as alternative or possibly synergistic compounds for current antiprotozoon chemotherapeutics.In recent years, several reports have been published on the scientifically confirmed antimicrobial activity of some natural products derived from plants (1,8,13,14,30,34,38,39) or of bioactive metabolites of microbial origin (26,32,33,35,40). Natural products showing effective action of pharmaceutical and medical relevance have also been recovered from marine organisms.…”

Applicability, Feasibility and Efficacy of Phytotherapy in Aquatic Animal Health Management

“…Sprinkling 25 -30 kg/mu of a decoction of fresh chinaberry branches and leaves is also effective [28]. Oketch-Rabah et al [114] isolated two antiprotozoal compounds namely mazanzagenin and nyasol from Asparagus africanus and found the nyasol potently inhibits the growth of Leishmania major and Plasmodium falciparum.…”