Antimalarial and cytotoxic quassinoids from the roots of Brucea javanica

Abstract

Two new quassinoids, brujavanol A (1) and brujavanol B (2), along with five known quassinoids (3–7), were isolated from the roots of Brucea javanica. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were also assessed. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant in vitro cytotoxicity against human oral cavity cancer (KB) cells with IC₅₀ values of 1.30 and 2.36 μg/ml, respectively, whereas compound 3 showed excellent antiplasmodial activity against the Plasmodium falciparum strains, K1 (IC₅₀ = 0.58 μg/ml).

Keywords:

• Simaroubaceae
• Brucea javanica
• quassinoid
• antimalarial activity
• cytotoxicity

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Associate Professor Dr Surat Laphookhieo, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University for giving valuable suggestions and Associate Professor Dr Seppo Karrila, Faculty of Science and Industrial Technology, Prince of Songkla University, for the helpful comments and suggestions on our draft manuscript.