Cytotoxic and Antimalarial Alkaloids fromBrunsvigia littoralis

Abstract

Four known alkaloids, lycorine (1), 1,2-di-O-acetyllycorine (2), ambelline (3), and crinine (4) were isolated from the bulbs of Brunsvigia littoralis (Amaryllidaceae). 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of 2 were completely assigned by means of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. The alkaloids (1-4) together with the synthesised 11-O-acetylambelline (3a) and 3-O-acetylcrinine (4a) were tested for antimalarial activity with two strains of cultured Plasmodium falciparum and for cytotoxicity with BL6 mouse melanoma cells. Structures 1 and 2 exhibited both antimalarial and cytotoxic activity.

Cytotoxic Alkaloids and a Flavan from the Bulbs of Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum.

“…6,9,[21][22] Compound 4 has been reported to show an inhibitory effect on the incorporation of 3 H-thymidine in Molt 4 cells (child T-cell leukemia), with an IC 50 value of less than 10 mg/ml, as well as a cytotoxic effect on Molt 4 cells (ED 50 , 42 mg/ml).…”

In vitro inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum by substances isolated from Amazonian antimalarial plants

“…The rational search for active substances in medicinal plants is a very promising and cost-effective strategy for antimalarial drug discovery. This approach benefits from the accumulated knowledge of the curing capacity of plants possessed by inhabitants of malaria endemic regions and permits the extensive evaluation of natural products derived from these sources (Campbell et al 1997, 1998, Brandão et al 1992, 1997, Krettli et al 2001, Andrade-Neto et al 2004a.…”

“…The rational search for active substances in medicinal plants is a very promising and cost-effective strategy for antimalarial drug discovery. This approach benefits from the accumulated knowledge of the curing capacity of plants possessed by inhabitants of malaria endemic regions and permits the extensive evaluation of natural products derived from these sources (Campbell et al 1997, 1998, Brandão et al 1992, 1997, Krettli et al 2001, Andrade-Neto et al 2004a.This triage of useful and effective plants is at the heart of traditional medicinal knowledge and is an extremely important source of therapeutic compounds in use today. Important semi-synthetic, low-cost, highly effective antimalarial drugs such as the quinolines (chloroquine, mefloquine, primaquine, etc.)…”

Analysis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids from Zephyranthes grandiflora by GC/MS and their cholinesterase activity

“…The chemical structures of these alkaloids are very variable as well as their pharmacological properties. Some species of this family contain galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor approved for the treatment of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) (Hostettman et al, 2006), as well as other alkaloids with interesting pharmacological activities: antimalarial, antiviral and antiproliferative (Campbell et al, 1988;Hohmann et al, 2002;Szlávik et al, 2004).…”