Antiprotozoal activity of aporphine alkaloids isolated from Unonopsis buchtienii (Annonaceae)

On a preliminary screening, substantial leishmanicidal activity was observe d for the petroleum ether and alkaloidal extracts of the stem bark of Unono psis buchtienii, the alkaloids and sterols isolated from these were studied . Of the alkaloids, liriodenine exhibited the highest activity against Leis hmania major and L. donovani (IC100 = 3.12 mu g/mL). On the other hand, O-m ethylmoschatoline and the petroleum ether extract without alkaloids showed an interesting in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei with an IC100 o f 6.25 mu g/mL. The highest cytotoxic activities were found with the petrol eum ether extracts without alkaloids and with all alkaloids isolated (IC50 < 9 mu g/mL for Vero cell line), Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.