Antiprotozoal compounds from Asparagus africanus

H A Oketch-Rabah, S F Dossaji, S B Christensen, K Frydenvang, E Lemmich, C Cornett, C E Olsen, M Chen, A Kharazmi, T Theander

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

88 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two antiprotozoal compounds have been isolated from the roots of Asparagus africanus Lam. (Liliaceae), a new sapogenin, 2 beta, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-(25R)-spirosta-4,7-dien-3-one (1), which was named muzanzagenin, and the lignan (+)-nyasol (2), (Z)-(+)-4,4'-(3-ethenyl-1-propene-1,3-diyl)-bisphenol. The structure of the sapogenin was elucidated by MS and by 1D and 2D NMR methods and established by a single crystal X-ray analysis. (+)-Nyasol potently inhibits the growth of Leishmania major promastigotes, the IC50 being 12 microM, and moderately inhibits Plasmodium falciparum schizonts with the IC50 49 microM. These concentrations only moderately affect the proliferation of human lymphocytes. Muzanzagenin showed a moderate in vitro activity in all three tests, the IC50 against leishmania promastigotes was 70 microM, and against four different malaria schizont strains the IC50 values were 16, 163, 23, and 16 microM, respectively.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Natural Products
Volume60
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1017-22
Number of pages5
ISSN0163-3864
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1997

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cell Division; Humans; Leishmania major; Liliaceae; Lymphocytes; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Phenols; Plasmodium falciparum; Sapogenins

Cite this