Bisindole alkaloids from Strychnos guianensis are effective antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cultured human TE671 cells

in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (2003), 367(3), 253-259

Several mono- and bisindole quaternary alkaloids isolated from the stem bark of Strychnos guianensis have recently been shown to be effective blockers of neuromuscular transmission in mice. In this study ... [more ▼]

Several mono- and bisindole quaternary alkaloids isolated from the stem bark of Strychnos guianensis have recently been shown to be effective blockers of neuromuscular transmission in mice. In this study, we used a human clonal cell line (TE671) expressing muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The agonist carbamylcholine activated a receptor-mediated Rb-86(+) efflux and this activation was antagonized by the indole alkaloids, the most active being bisindole bisquaternary compounds. The most effective antagonist, guiachrysine, had an IC50 around 0.43 muM in the presence of 0.5 mM carbamylcholine, compared to 0.16 muM for d-tubocurarine, the most potent curarizing alkaloid. Guiaflavine and 5',6'-dehydroguiaflavine were slightly less effective. Monoindole compounds were 10 to 100 times less potent than bisindole alkaloids. Kinetic analysis showed that the inhibition of the carbamylcholine-dependent Rb-86(+) efflux by guiaflavine was of mixed competitive and uncompetitive type. The competitive component (K-I = 0.21 muM) is presumably due to binding at the acetylcholine site, while the uncompetitive component (K'(I) = 0.92 muM) may be due to open channel block. [less ▲]

New Antimalarial and Cytotoxic Sungucine Derivatives from Strychnos Icaja Roots

in Planta Medica (2000), 66(3), 262-9

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 ... [more ▼]

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). [less ▲]

10'-Hydroxyusambarensine, a New Antimalarial Bisindole Alkaloid from the Roots of Strychnos Usambarensis

in Journal of Natural Products (1999), 62(4), 619-21

Reinvestigation of Strychnos usambarensis Gilg resulted in the isolation of a tertiary phenolic bisindole alkaloid, 10'-hydroxyusambarensine (1), which was identified by detailed spectroscopic methods ... [more ▼]

Reinvestigation of Strychnos usambarensis Gilg resulted in the isolation of a tertiary phenolic bisindole alkaloid, 10'-hydroxyusambarensine (1), which was identified by detailed spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 was moderately active against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. [less ▲]

Direct Quantitative Analysis of Linamarin in Cassava by High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography

in Journal of Planar Chromatography- Modern TLC (1998), 11(January/February), 38-42

A simple, rapid and accurate HPTLC quantitative procedure is presented for the direct determination of linamarin. A cassava sample was extracted with boiling 80% v/v methanol and the extract and linamarin ... [more ▼]

A simple, rapid and accurate HPTLC quantitative procedure is presented for the direct determination of linamarin. A cassava sample was extracted with boiling 80% v/v methanol and the extract and linamarin were applied to silicagel HPTLC plates prewashed by development with methanol.The plates were first developed to a distance of 30mm with ethyl acetate-acetone-water, 40+50+10 (v/v), then to a distance of 85 mm with ethyl acetate-formic acid-water, 60+10+10 (v/v). the spots were visualized by dipping the plate into a solution af aniline (2%), and phosphoric acid 15% in acetone, then heating at 105°C for 60 min. Densitometric quantification was effected at lambda= 525 nm by transmission scanning. The method was validated for accuracy, intraday, and interday reproducibility of peak area, linearity, and detection limit. [less ▲]