Review of the chemical structures and antimalarial activities of indole alkaloids isolated from Picrasma javanica Bl.

Abstract

Picrasma javanica Bl. is a critical natural source to develop the new antimalarial drugs having novel mode of action. It was found that fourteen indole alkaloids were purified from P. javanica that was growing in Indonesia, New Guinea and Thailand. However, only two purified compound of Thai P. javanica, 4-methoxy-1-vinyl-B-carboline (dehydrocrenatine) and 6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-1-vinyl-B-carboline, were tested for antimalarial activities. In addition, crenatine (1-ethyl-4-methoxy-B-carboline) and dehydrocrenatine were synthesized and evaluated for antimalarial activity and selective toxicity. Therefore, it is valuable to study the structure-activity relationship of these fourteen indole alkaloids of P. javanica as the potential antimalarial drugs. Importantly, Thai P. javanica shall be reserved as medicinal plant for malaria disease treatment.

Keywords: Indole alkaloids, B-carboline, chemical structure, Picrasma javanica Bl, antimalarial activity.