Download PDF
Planta Med 1998; 64(6): 559-562
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957514
Papers
Natural Product Chemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antiprotozoal Properties of 16,17-Dihydroxybrachycalyxolide from Vernonia brachycalyx

H. A. Oketch-Rabah1 , S. Brøgger Christensen2 , Karla Frydenvang2 , S. F. Dossaji1 , Thor G. Theander3 , Claus Cornett4 , William M. Watkins5 , Arsalan Kharazmi6 , Else Lemmich2
  • 1Phytochemistry Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 2Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 3Center for Medical Parasitology, Institute of Medicinal Microbiology and Immunology, Copenhagen University, Denmark
  • 4Department of Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 5Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 6Department of Clinical Microbiology and Center for Medical Parasitology, University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
01 February 2007 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Extracts of the leaves from Vernonia brachycalyx showed in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum and promastigotes of Leishmania major. The germacrane dilactone 16,17-dihydrobrachycalyxolide (1) which was previously isolated from the aerial parts of the plant was shown to be the major antiplasmodial principle. An X-ray crystallographic analysis established the absolute configuration and some signals in the NMR spectra were reassigned. 16,17-Dihydrobrachycalyxolide (1) elicited a strong antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activity but also a high toxicity against human lymphocytes.

Key words

16,17-Dihydrobrachycalyxolide - Vernonia brachycalyx Hoffm. - Asteraceae - X-ray analysis - absolute configuration - Plasmodium falciparum - Leishmania major - lymphocytes