Enhancement of the antiplasmodial activity of quassin by transformation into a gamma-lactone.

The naturally occurring bitter principle quassin (1) was converted chemically into the gamma-lactone quassilactone (13) in an attempt to enhance its antiplasmodial activity. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of 13 against Plasmodium falciparum (K1) (IC(50) = 23 microM) was 40-fold greater than that of 1. However, one of the intermediates, compound 8, the 15beta-hydroxy,16-O-m-chlorobenzoyl analogue of 1, was 506-fold more active than 1 against P. falciparum (IC(50) = 1.8 microM) and only 3-fold less potent than chloroquine. In addition, 8 displayed the best cytotoxic/antiplasmodial ratio (112) of all of the compounds tested. In the course of this work a dimer, neoquassin ether (6), linked at C-16 was also prepared; 6 was found to have weak antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) = 9.7 microM).

Assessment of the antiprotozoal activity of Galphimia glauca and the isolation of new nor-secofriedelanes and nor-friedelanes.

Four new terpenoids, comprising three nor-secofriedelanes (1-3) and one nor-friedelane (4), were isolated from Galphimia glauca, together with the known flavonol quercetin and the sterols stigmasterol and sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside. The structure elucidation of the new isolates was conducted by 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1-4 were given the trivial names galphin A, galphin B, galphin C, and galphimidin, respectively. All isolates were tested for in vitro antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activities. Quercetin was the only substance isolated that showed any antiprotozoal activity, and this was weak; the IC(50) values were 14 microM against Plasmodium falciparum K1, 13.2 microM against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, and 63.8 microM against Leishmania donovani. Quercetin was found to be inactive against KB cells (IC(50) = 295.8 microM).