Planta Med 2013; 79 - P94
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1336536

Antileishmanial Activity studies of Magnolia grandiflora Leaves

HRW Dharmaratne 1, BL Tekwani 1, NPD Nanayakkara 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research
  • 2Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

In our search for safe antimicrobial and antileishmanial leads from natural sources, we investigated leaves of Magnolia grandiflora. Preliminary screening of the methylene chloride extract of M. grandiflora leaves showed moderate activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Activity-guided fractionation of the above extract led to the identification of the sesquiterpene lactone, parthenolide (1) (4α, 5β-epoxy-germacra-1-(10), 11-(13)-diene-12,6α-olide) as the active compound. Parthenolide has previously been reported to have activity against the promastigote of Leishmania amazonensis [1].

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by in part by US Department of Defense CDMRP grant # W81XWH-09 and the United States Department of Agriculture, ARS, Specific Cooperative Agreement No. 58 – 6408 – 02 – 1-612. References: [1] Tiuman TS, et al. (2005) Antimicrob Agents and Chemother, 49: 176 – 182.