β-Carboline Glucoalkaloids from Psychotria cupularis and Evaluation of Their Antileishmanial Activity

• Published in: Revista brasileira de farmacognosia Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 709 - 714
• Main Authors: Barreto, Ivan Martins, Moreira, Paulo Otávio Lourenço, de Macedo, Guadalupe Edilma Licona, Maia, Daniela Nabak Bueno, de Almeida Alves, Tânia Maria, de Oliveira, Djalma Menezes, Cota, Betania Barros
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Medicine; Pharmacy; Short Communication; Intracellular amastigote assay; Neglected tropical disease; Ophiorine alkaloids; Spectroscopic data; Cytotoxic assay
• ISSN: 1981-528X; 1981-528X
• DOI: 10.1007/s43450-021-00197-8

Purification of the crude ethanol extracts from leaves and stems of Psychotria cupularis (Müll.Arg.) Standl., Rubiaceae, resulted in the isolation of the known monoterpene indole alkaloids ophiorine B and lyalosidic and strictosidinic acids. The antileishmanial activity values found for the isolated compounds highlighted ophiorine B as the most active against Leishmania ( Viannia ) braziliensis (IC 50 100.50 μg/ml or 196.1 μM) and Leishmania ( Leishmania ) amazonensis (IC 50 3.69 μg/ml or 7.2 μM) with a selectivity index of 108.6 to the human acute monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that antileishmanial β-carboline glucoalkaloids were isolated from the studied material plant, contributing to the pharmacological potential of the genus. Graphical abstract