Antiplasmodial isoflavanones from the roots of Sophora mollis.

Six new prenylated isoflavanones named sophoronols A-F (1-6), together with eight phenolic constituents, were isolated from the roots of Sophora mollis. Their structures and stereochemistry were established by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, especially HMBC and NOESY as well as CD results. Componds 3 and 5 exhibited moderate anitplasmodial activity against the CQS D10 strain of Plasmodium falciparum, with IC(50) values of 12.9 and 12.8 microM, respectively.

Antiplasmodial halogenated monoterpenes from the marine red alga Plocamium cornutum.

In our continuing search for antimalarial leads from South African marine organisms we have examined the antiplasmodial organic extracts of the endemic marine red alga Plocamium cornutum (Turner) Harvey. Two new and three known halogenated monoterpenes were isolated and their structures determined by standard spectroscopic techniques. The 3,7-dimethyl-3,4-dichloro-octa-1,5,7-triene skeleton is common to all five compounds. Interestingly, compounds bearing the 7-dichloromethyl substituent showed significantly higher antiplasmodial activity toward a chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum.

The bioactivity of novel furanoterpenoids isolated from Siphonochilus aethiopicus.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the medicinal plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Zingiberaceae) for antiplasmodial activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethyl acetate extract of Siphonochilus aethiopicus rhizomes was fractionated using solid phase extraction (SPE) and purified by high performance liquid chromatography. Structure elucidation was performed with nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The in vitro cytotoxicity and antiplasmodial activity was determined. In vivo schizontocidal activity was performed in a malaria mouse-model. Additional in vitro testing was done against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The ethyl acetate extract showed in vitro activity against the chloroquine-sensitive (CQS) and chloroquine-resistant (CQR) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC(50)-values of 2.9 microg/ml and 1.4 microg/ml, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three novel furanoterpenoids with moderate in vitro antiplasmodial activity. The crude extract showed very good in vivo activity. The compounds and crude extract were more active against the CQR strain than the CQS strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The SPE fractions were more active than the isolated compounds. The compounds did not show good activity against the micro-organisms tested. No in vitro cytotoxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of antiplasmodial compounds present in Siphonochilus aethiopicus.

Fucoxanthin, tetraprenylated toluquinone and toluhydroquinone metabolites from Sargassum heterophyllum inhibit the in vitro growth of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

In the course of our search for antimalarial leads from marine algae, four metabolites, sargaquinoic acid, sargahydroquinoic acid, sargaquinal and fucoxanthin, were isolated from the South African alga Sargassum heterophyllum. Fucoxanthin and sargaquinal showed good antiplasmodial activity toward a chloroquine-sensitive strain (D10) of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 1.5 and 2.0 microM, respectively), while sargaquinoic acid and sargahydroquinoic acid were only moderately active (IC50 12.0 and 15.2 microM, respectively).

Antiplasmodial hirsutinolides from Vernonia staehelinoides and their utilization towards a simplified pharmacophore.

The dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Vernonia staehelinoides Harv. (Asteraceae) showed in vitro activity (IC(50) approximately 3 microg/ml) against the chloroquine-sensitive (D10) and the chloroquine-resistant (K1) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Through conventional chromatographic techniques and bioassay-guided fractionation two structurally-related hirsutinolides displaying in vitro antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) approximately 0.2 microg/ml against D10) were isolated and identified by spectroscopic data. Compounds 1, 8 alpha-(2-methylacryloyloxy)-3-oxo-1-desoxy-1,2-dehydrohirsutinolide-13-O-acetate, and 2, 8 alpha-(5'-acetoxysenecioyloxy)-3-oxo-1-desoxy-1,2-dehydrohirsutinolide-13-O-acetate were found to be cytotoxic to mammalian Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells at similar concentrations but proved to be attractive scaffolds for structure-activity relationship studies. Two main privileged substructures, a 2(5H)-furanone unit and a dihydrofuran-4-one unit, were identified as potential pharmacophores which may be responsible for the observed biological activity. Mucochloric and mucobromic acids were selected as appropriate 2(5H)-furanone substructures and these were shown to have comparable activity against the D10 and superior activity against the K1 strains relative to the hirsutinolide natural product. Mucochloric and mucobromic acids also show selective cytotoxicity to the malaria parasites compared to mammalian (CHO) cells in vitro. The antiplasmodial data obtained in respect of these two acids suggests that the 2(5H)-furanone substructure is a key pharmacophore in the observed antiplasmodial activity.

Isolation and identification of antiplasmodial sesquiterpene lactones from Oncosiphon piluliferum.

Oncosiphon piluliferum (Asteraceae) is used traditionally to treat a variety of ailments, mainly fevers. This prompted the screening of this plant for antiplasmodial properties. The dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of the plant showed activity in vitro against the chloroquine-sensitive (IC(50) 2.6microg/ml) and the chloroquine-resistant (IC(50) 3.1microg/ml) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Through conventional chromatographic techniques and bioassay-guided fractionation, sesquiterpene lactones of the germacranolide and eudesmanolide type displaying significant in vitro antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) values ranging from 0.4 to 4.4microg/ml) were isolated and identified by spectroscopic data. In addition, the cytotoxic effects of the active compounds against Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells were evaluated and the compounds were found to be toxic to mammalian cells at similar concentrations. Structure-activity relationships were assessed.