Isolation of Alkaloidal Constituents of Zanthoxylum usambarense and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Using Ion-Pair HPLC

Abstract

Quaternary alkaloids of two Kenyan medicinal plants belonging to the genus Zanthoxylum, Z. usambarense and Z. chalybeum, were examined using ion-pair HPLC. Both plants contained similar alkaloids, but colored protoberberines were found only in Z. chalybeum. From the stems of Z. usambarense a new alkaloid named usambanoline (1) was isolated and characterized.

Anti-plasmodial activity and toxicity of extracts of plants used in traditional malaria therapy in Meru and Kilifi Districts of Kenya

“…Nitidine, the most common anti-malarial benzophenanthridine alkaloid in Zanthoxylum species (Gakunju et al, 1995), has been previously isolated from Z. usambarense (Kato et al, 1996) and F. angolensis (Khalid and Waterman, 1985). This may explain the observed anti-plasmodial activity.…”

Antimalarial herbal remedies of Msambweni, Kenya

“…Antiplasmodial activity (Gessler et al, 1994), quinoline alkaloids (Kato et al, 1996). The bark of the Kenyan plant was reported active against Bacillus subtilis, Penicillium crustosum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Taniguchi et al, 1978).…”

In Vivo Antianaemic Effect and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Erythrina abyssinica and Zanthoxylum usambarensis in Mice Models

“…Under normal conditions, the body generates new red blood cells to replace the lost ones but this takes longer as observed in the untreated anemic mice. E. abyssinica could also be containing higher levels of folic acid, vitamin B 12 , vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B 6 than Z. usambarensis which may also account for the faster reversal of PHZ induced anemia; however, the levels of these vitamins were not estimated in this study. All these vitamins together with copper, iron and optimal balance of other minerals such as cobalt are required for optimal erythropoiesis.…”

“…Anemia has also been reported in vitamin B 12 and folate deficiency and in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei since these three induce iron deficiency anemia [30][31][32][33]. PHZ induced anemia was also restored in rats orally administered with aqueous extracts of Hibiscus cannabinus at a dose of 400 mg per kilogram body weight daily for three weeks [20].…”

“…In the traditional medicine the bark and roots are used as a cough remedy, serves as an emetic, and are used against malaria while a decoction of the bark is drunk to treat rheumatism [10]. The phytochemicals isolated from Z. usambarensis include (+)-tembetarine, (+)-magnoflorine, (-)-edulinine, (+)-Nmethylplatydesmine, (-)-blongine, (-)-usambarine, usambanoline, (-)-cis-N-methylcanadine, nitidine, chelerythrine, o-methylcedrelopsin, canthin-6-one, oxychelerythrine, norchelerythrine, pellitrone, (+)-sesamin, and (+)-piperitol-3, 3-dimethylallyl ether [10][11][12]. E. abyssinica Lam.…”