MEDICINAL-PLANTS FROM SURINAM - SCREENING OF MEDICINAL-PLANTS FROM SURINAM FOR 5-HT1A LIGANDS - BIOACTIVE ISOQUINOLINE ALKALOIDS FROM THE FRUIT OF ANNONA-MURICATA

Plants from Suriname (South-America) and several Annona species, inclu ding A. muricata, A. cherimolia, A. montana and A. glabra were screene d for 5-HT1A receptor binding activity by ligand-binding-studies (LBS) . Crude extracts of all Annona species and from Hibiscus bifurcatus, I rlbarchia purpurascens and Scoparia dulcis showed high activity. The i soquinoline alkaloids asimilobine (1), nornuciferine (2), and annonain e (3) were isolated as the active principles from the fruit of Annona muricata. These results may partially explain the use of Hibiscus bifu rcatus and Annona muricata in traditional medicine in Suriname.