Planta Med 2000; 66(3): 262-269
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8559
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

New Antimalarial and Cytotoxic Sungucine Derivatives from Strychnos icaja Roots

Michel Frédérich1, 2,*, Marie-Claire De Pauw3 , Gabriel Llabrès4 , Monique Tits1 , Marie-Pierre Hayette2 , Viviane Brandt1 , Jacques Penelle1 , Patrick De Mol2 , Luc Angenot1
  • 1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Liège, B36, Liège, Belgium
  • 2 Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liège, B23, Liège, Belgium
  • 3 Department of Histology and Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • 4 Department of NMR, Institute of Physics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Abstract

Reinvestigation of Strychnos icaja Baillon resulted in the isolation of vomicine, isostrychnine and of three new sungucine derivatives, named isosungucine (8), 18-hydroxy-sungucine (9) and 18-hydroxy-isosungucine (10). They were identified by detailed spectroscopic methods. The complete 1H- and 13C-NMR study of sungucine was also realized. Some of these compounds were highly active against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and more particularly against the chloroquine-resistant strain. Compound 10 showed a selective antiplasmodial activity, with > 100-fold greater toxicity towards Plasmodium falciparum, relative to cultured human cancer cells (KB and HeLa lines) or fibroblasts (WI38).

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Michel Frédérich

Institut de Pharmacie Service de Pharmacognosie

Avenue de l'hôpital 1, CHU, Tour 4, B36

B4000 Liège

Belgium

Email: M.Frederich@ulg.ac.be

Phone: +/32/4/3664332