Aporphine alkaloids with in vitro antiplasmodial activity from the leaves of Phoebe tavoyana

Abstract

One new aporphine named tavoyanine A (1), along with four known aporphines laetanine (2), roemerine (3), laurolitsine (4), and boldine (5), and one morphinandienone type sebiferine (6) were isolated from the leaves of Phoebe tavoyana (Meissn.) Hook f. (Lauraceae). The isolation was achieved by chromatographic techniques, and the structural elucidation was performed via spectral methods. This paper also reports the antiplasmodial activity of roemerine (3), laurolitsine (4), boldine (5), and sebiferine (6). The results showed that 3–6 have a potent inhibitory activity against the growth of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 clone, with IC₅₀ values of 0.89, 1.49, 1.65, and 2.76 µg/ml, respectively.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phoebe tavoyana
• Lauraceae
• aporphine alkaloid
• morphinandienone
• antiplasmodial
• Plasmodium falciparum

Acknowledgments

We also like to thank Dr Halo-N and Mr Che Yusof Che Mat for their advice and support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by PPP Grant (PV091/2011B) and BKP Grant (BKP069-2016) from University of Malaya.