Anti-leishmanial activity of alkaloidal extract from Aspidosperma ramiflorum. (1/18)

Infections due to protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials (SbV), which present renal and cardiac toxicity. Besides, the precise chemical structure and mechanism of action of these drugs are unknown up to date. In order to find new drugs against leishmaniasis, we have been studying extracts of Brazilian trees. In the present study, we have evaluated the effectiveness of an alkaloid extract of Aspidosperma ramiflorum Muell. Arg. (Apocynaceae), against the extracellular forms promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) braziliensis. The alkaloid extract of A. ramiflorum was much more effective against L. (L.) amazonensis (LD50 < 47 microg/ml) than L. (V.) braziliensis. Based on these in vitro results against L. (L.) amazonensis new studies should be made to find the compounds with anti-leishmanial activity.  (+info)

Revisiting a classic approach to the Aspidosperma alkaloids: an intramolecular Schmidt reaction mediated synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine. (2/18)

[reaction: see text] A total synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine (1) is described. The key reactions used in the synthesis of this pentacyclic Aspidosperma alkaloid were a deracemizing imine alkylation/Robinson annulation sequence, a selective "redox ketalization", and an intramolecular Schmidt reaction. A Fischer indolization step carried out on a tricyclic ketone mirrored the sequence reported by Stork and Dolfini in their classic aspidospermine synthesis.  (+info)

Antibacterial activity of indole alkaloids from Aspidosperma ramiflorum. (3/18)

We evaluated the antibacterial activities of the crude methanol extract, fractions (I-V) obtained after acid-base extraction and pure compounds from the stem bark of Aspidosperma ramiflorum. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution technique in Mueller-Hinton broth. Inoculates were prepared in this medium from 24-h broth cultures of bacteria (10(7) CFU/mL). Microtiter plates were incubated at 37 masculineC and the MICs were recorded after 24 h of incubation. Two susceptibility endpoints were recorded for each isolate. The crude methanol extract presented moderate activity against the Gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis (MIC = 250 microg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC = 500 microg/mL), and was inactive against the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and P. aeruginosa (MIC > 1000 microg/mL). Fractions I and II were inactive against standard strains at concentrations of < or =1000 microg/mL and fraction III displayed moderate antibacterial activity against B. subtilis (MIC = 500 microg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC = 250 microg/mL). Fraction IV showed high activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus (MIC = 15.6 microg/mL) and moderate activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa (MIC = 250 microg/mL). Fraction V presented high activity against B. subtilis (MIC = 15.6 microg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC = 31.3 microg/mL) and was inactive against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC > 1000 microg/mL). Fractions III, IV and V were then submitted to bioassay-guided fractionation by silica gel column chromatography, yielding individual purified ramiflorines A and B. Both ramiflorines showed significant activity against S. aureus (MIC = 25 microg/mL) and E. faecalis (MIC = 50 microg/mL), with EC50 of 8 and 2.5 microg/mL for ramiflorines A and B, respectively, against S. aureus. These results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active against Gram-positive bacteria.  (+info)

Formal synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids via the intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-azapentdienyllithiums. (4/18)

[reaction: see text] A formal synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloids aspidospermidine, aspidospermine, and quebrachamine is reported through an efficient preparation of Stork's penultimate intermediate. The key step of the sequence involved an intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition of the 2-azapentadienyllithium 21 formed in situ from the corresponding imine 1, which after N-alkylation of the resulting cycloadduct provided 2 in excellent yield. The synthesis represents a new disconnection of the classical tricyclic ketone used for appendage of the requisite indole.  (+info)

Application of the Rh(II) cyclization/cycloaddition cascade for the total synthesis of (+/-)-aspidophytine. (5/18)

[Structure: see text] A new strategy for the synthesis of (+/-)-aspidophytine has been developed and is based on a Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization/dipolar cycloaddition sequence. The resulting [3+2]-cycloadduct undergoes an efficient Lewis acid mediated cascade that rapidly provides the complete skeleton of aspidophytine. The synthesis also features a mild decarbomethoxylation reaction.  (+info)

Toward general access to the aspidosperma-type terpenoid indole alkaloids: synthesis of the key 3,3-disubstituted piperidones through enantioselective intramolecular heck-type reaction of chloroformamides. (6/18)

An enantioselective intramolecular Heck-type reaction of chloroformamides has been developed for the synthesis of 3,3-disubstituted piperidones. The desired piperidone was formed in the presence of a palladium catalyst, an optically active phosphoramidite ligand, K3PO4 and Ag3PO4. The obtained piperidone was converted to epieburnamonine.  (+info)

Highly efficient molybdenum-based catalysts for enantioselective alkene metathesis. (7/18)

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Total synthesis of (+)-fendleridine (aspidoalbidine) and (+)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine. (8/18)

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