1: J Nat Prod. 2007 Aug;70(8):1360-3. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Antitrypanosomal activity of triterpenoids and sterols from the leaves of
Strychnos spinosa and related compounds.

Hoet S, Pieters L, Muccioli GG, Habib-Jiwan JL, Opperdoes FR, Quetin-Leclercq J.

Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Unité d'Analyse Chimique et Physico-Chimique des
Médicaments et Pharmacognosie, Université Catholique de Louvain, UCL 72.30-CHAM, 
Avenue E. Mounier 72, B-1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.

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.

PMID: 17637068 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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