Chemical constituents of Osyris alba and their antiparasitic activities

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of Osyris alba L. (Santalaceae) of Jordanian origin resulted in the isolation and identification of one new pyrrolizidine alkaloid, osyrisine (1), together with 16 other known compounds. The structures of all compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Osyrisine, catechin, and catechin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside exhibited a significant level of antiparasitic activity against two parasites, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia intestinalis.

Keywords:

• osyrisine
• Osyris alba
• pyrrolizidine alkaloids
• catechin
• catechin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside
• antiparasitic activity

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a joint grant from the Deanship of Scientific Research and Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research (HMCSR), University of Jordan. We wish to thank Ms Lina Al-Natsheh for technical assistance and maintenance of cultures.