Planta Med 1998; 64(6): 559-562
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957514
Papers
Natural Product Chemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antiprotozoal Properties of 16,17-Dihydroxybrachycalyxolide from Vernonia brachycalyx

H. A. Oketch-Rabah1 , S. Brøgger Christensen2 , Karla Frydenvang2 , S. F. Dossaji1 , Thor G. Theander3 , Claus Cornett4 , William M. Watkins5 , Arsalan Kharazmi6 , Else Lemmich2
  • 1Phytochemistry Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 2Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 3Center for Medical Parasitology, Institute of Medicinal Microbiology and Immunology, Copenhagen University, Denmark
  • 4Department of Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 5Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 6Department of Clinical Microbiology and Center for Medical Parasitology, University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
01 February 2007 (online)

Abstract

Extracts of the leaves from Vernonia brachycalyx showed in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum and promastigotes of Leishmania major. The germacrane dilactone 16,17-dihydrobrachycalyxolide (1) which was previously isolated from the aerial parts of the plant was shown to be the major antiplasmodial principle. An X-ray crystallographic analysis established the absolute configuration and some signals in the NMR spectra were reassigned. 16,17-Dihydrobrachycalyxolide (1) elicited a strong antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activity but also a high toxicity against human lymphocytes.

    >