Biological activities of pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids from Calycodendron milnei
H E Saad1, S H el-Sharkawy, W T Shier
1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mansoura, Egypt.
Abstract:
Certain genera of the tribe Psychotrieae, specifically Calycodendron and Psychotria, found on Pacific Islands, synthesize a series of Nb-methyltryptamine-derived alkaloids made by linking together 2 to 8 pyrrolidinoindoline units. Nine alkaloids of this class have been isolated from the aerial parts and stem bark of Calycodendron milnei, a species endemic to the Vaté Islands (New Hebrides), and examined for potential application as anti-cancer and anti-infective agents. All members of the series exhibited readily detected cytotoxic activity against proliferating and non-proliferating Vero African green monkey kidney cells in culture, with the most potent activity being exhibited by vatamine and quadrigemine C. Only hodgkinsine A exhibited substantial antiviral activity against a DNA virus, herpes simplex type 1, and an RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus. All members of the series showed readily detected anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-candidal activities using both tube dilution and disc diffusion assay methods. The most potent anti-microbial alkaloids were hodgkinsine A and quadrigemine C, which exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 5 micrograms/ml.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Physical Properties of Amines
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses


