New Antimicrobial Alkaloids from the Roots of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula

Abstract

Bioassay-guided isolation studies on the root extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula possessing significant antibacterial activity led to the isolation of three new alkaloids pendulamine A (1), pendulamine B (2) and penduline (3) along with stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside, allantoin, the known diterpenoid kolavenic acid, and the azafluorene alkaloid isoursuline. The structures of these compounds have been elucidated with the help of spectroscopic studies including 2D NMR experiments. Compounds 1 and 2, which are the only protoberberine alkaloids having a monosubstituted A ring with a hydroxy group at C-3, were found to be the active antibacterial principles of the roots. Their MIC values ranged between 0.02 - 20 μg against the tested bacteria.

Key words

Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula - Annonaceae - roots - alkaloids - 8-oxoprotoberberine - azafluorenones - antibacterial activity

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