Phytochemical and antiprotozoal activity of Ocotea lancifolia

• Published in: Fitoterapia Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 382 - 384
• Main Authors: Fournet, Alain, Ferreira, Maria Elena, Rojas de Arias, Antonieta, Guy, Isabelle, Guinaudeau, Hélène, Heinzen, Horacio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents - administration & dosage; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Humans; Isoquinoline alkaloids; Leishmancidal activity; Leishmania; Leishmania - classification; Leishmania - drug effects; Medical sciences; Ocotea; Ocotea lancifolia; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Trypanocidal activity; Trypanocidal Agents - administration & dosage; Trypanocidal Agents - pharmacology; Trypanocidal Agents - therapeutic use; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Isoquinoline alkaloids; Leishmancidal activity; Trypanocidal activity; Ocotea lancifolia; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Isoquinoline derivatives; Trypanosoma; Pharmacognosy; Medicinal plant; Antiprotozoal agent; Alkaloid; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Parasiticide; Hardwood forest tree; Spermatophyta; Lauraceae
• ISSN: 0367-326X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2007.03.003

Thirteen known isoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from Ocotea lancifolia, popularly known as « canela pilosa » in Brasil and « laurel né » by the Guarani people which means smell laurel. Their activities against the promastigote forms of three Leishmania strains and the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated, as well as their hepatocytotoxicity. Among them, the noraporphine alkaloid (−) caaverine has shown the most interesting antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania and T. cruzi parasites.