Antitrypanosomal Activity of Triterpenoids and Sterols from the Leaves of Strychnos spinosa and Related Compounds

Abstract

Fractionation of an antitrypanosomal lipophilic leaf extract from Strychnos spinosa led to the isolation of eight triterpenoids and sterols in this plant part for the first time. Two of these were found to possess in vitro antitrypanosomal activity, namely, saringosterol (14) and 24-hydroperoxy-24-vinylcholesterol (15), with IC(50) values of 7.8 +/- 1.2 and 3.2 +/- 1.2 microM, respectively. The latter compound was isolated from a plant source for the first time. A comparative study on the antitrypanosomal activity of the isolated triterpenoids and sterols and some related compounds has indicated that the presence of an oxygenated function at C-28 or an oxygenated side chain at C-17 seems to be important for the antitrypanosomal activity of triterpenoids and sterols, respectively.

Evaluation of Trypanocidal Activity of <i>Bidens pilosa</i> and <i>Physalis peruviana</i> Against <i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i>

“…It implied that this dosage was not toxic to the experimental animal. Similar results were achieved by [15,16,17] with extracts of strychnos spinosa. Literature from other studies on medicinal plants revealed both extracts contain similar compounds.…”

<i>In Vivo</i> Antitrypanosomal Effects Of Some Ethnomedicinal Plants From Nupeland Of North Central Nigeria

“…Natural products such as alkaloids, terpenes, quinones, and polyphenols found in these extracts have been shown to be potent growth inhibition of T. cruzi (Wright and Pillipson, 1990). Triterpenoids and sterols from the plants are reported to possess antitrypanosomal activity (Hoet et al, 2007). The antitrypanosomal activities of alkaloids like actinodaphine, dicentine, cassythine isolated from Cassytha filiformis (Hoet et al, 2004a) are also found in B. buonopozense and several other alkaloids (Merschjohann et al, 2001) displayed significant in vitro antitrypanosomal activity.…”

Functional Chimeras: New Bingel–Hirsch‐Type Steroid–Fullerene Hybrids

“…[1,2] Cholesterol, β-sitosterol, and ergosterol constitute the main eukaryotic sterols representing the three eukaryotic kingdoms: animals, plants, and fungi, respectively. [3] Cholesterol is considered the main animal sterol, an essential metabolite with an important function for normal cell growth in humans.…”