Planta Med 2016; 82 - PB51
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578699

Anti-Sickling Activity Of Ajmalicine And Ajmalicine Oxindole B From Seeds Of Picralima Nitida Staph (Apocynaceae)

FN Osuala 1, I Ofoefule Sabinus 2, I Inya-Agha Stella 3, E Odoh Uchenna 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, Madonna University Elele
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Antisickling activity of two compounds isolated from seeds of Picralima nitida, namely, Ajmalicine and Ajmalicine Oxindole B was studied using sodium methabisulphite-induced sickling of the Hbss red blood cells obtained from confirmed non-crisis state (steady state) sickle cell patient. The structures of the compounds have been confirmed by HR-EIMS, 1 H-13C-NMR, COSY, HETCOR spectroscopic methods. The isolated compounds exhibited different degrees of anti-sickling activity. Compound 1 showed the best anti-sickling activity (100% unsickling at 180 min) and comparable to that of the standard drug Parahydroxy benzoic acid (100% unsickling at 180 min). The anti-sickling activity of compounds are in the order CP1 > CP2. The isolated compounds were all alkaloids: ajmalicine (19α)-16, 17-didehydro-19-methyl-oxa yohimbin-16-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1) and ajmalicine oxindole B (19α)-19-methyl-2-oxoformosanan-16-carboxylic acid methyl ester (2). The results of the study suggest that the isolates of P. nitida possess antisickling effect.

Fig. 1: Ajmalicine (Compound 1)

Fig. 2: Ajmalicine Oxindole B (Compound 2)