Posters Planta Medica 55(1989) 115
P2-56 Primary Biological Investigation of kaloids were shown to have interesting chemical and biological
Gladiolus dalenii properties, i.e. cytotoxicity, platelets aggregation inhibition (2,
3). It seemed of interest to carry on the pharmacognostical
S. Bot/ia1 , L. M. Gerritsma-van der Vijver', and
study of this species by investigating the alkaloidal content of its
D. G. van der Nest2
different organs.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Potchefstroom Uni- A total alkaloidal extract of the air-dried fruits was obtained
versity for Christian Higher Education, 2520, Potchefstromm,
Republic of South Africa by a classical acid-base purification procedure as described in
2
Laboratory Animal Centre, Potchefstroom University for Christ- previous communications (2, 4). The chromatographic profiles
Higher Education, 2520, Potchefstroom, Republic of South
Africa by TLC and HPLC were compared to those obtained with the
leaves and stem bark extracts of the plant. They showed some
Various Gladiolus species (Idaceae),indigenous to South Af- significant qualitative and quantitative differences in their al-
rica are used in ethnomedicine for relief of rheumatic pains, kaloidal contents. Nevertheless, there seemed to be some com-
dysmenorrhea, dysentry, colds, and other ailments (1). mon alkaloids between the extracts. Four major alkaloids have
In the present investigation, leaves and corms of Gladiolus been isolated so far and identified on the basis of their spectral
dalenii van Gee! were tested for biological activity in a few test data in comparison with those found in the literautre. Accord-
systems. Abnormal behaviour (Hippocratic evaluation) (2) ing to these date (IR, UV, 1H-NMR) and the mass spectral
and post-mortem organ lesions (macro- and microscopic) were fragmentations, three of these alkaloids seem to be isomers
noted as signs of acute toxicity in Spraque Dawley rats after in- composed of three N-methyltryptamine units such as hodgkin-
traperitoneal (i.p.) and oral (p.o.) administration of suspen- sine. On account of the great number of asymmetric carbons in
sions of the plant parts. Plant material was subjected to further these structures, numerous possibilities of steroisomerism exist
Downloaded by: University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Copyrighted material.
tests to determine antimicrobial potential (3) and phototoxicity and therefore we intend to further carry on our investigations
(4). by trying to obtain crystalline derivates of these compounds in
The results show that the leaves and corms of Gladiolus order to establish their steric configuration by X-ray diffrac-
dalenii contain metabolites with cytotoxic activity, affecting tion.
mitotic active tissue (lymphoid tissue, the alimentary canal and
testis), cardiac tissue (directly or indirectly), the liver and kid- References
neys. Lesions (extensive necrosis) developed after 6 hours and 1. Adjibadé, Y., et al. (1986) Planta Med. 52, 523.
could then already be observed macroscopically. Lesions in the 2. Roth, A., et al. (1986) Planta Med. 52,450—453.
liver (midisonal necrosis) and lesions in lymphoid tissue are 3. Beretz, A., et al. (1985) Planta Med. 51, 300—303.
such that they can be used to typify toxication by G. dalenii 4. Adjibadé, Y., eta. (1985) Ada Agron. Hung. 34, 81.
corms and leaves. The estimated minimum lethal dose (MLD)
for i.p. administration of corms and leaves are 10—31 mg/kg
and 100—316 mg/kg, respectively, and 3160—5620 and> 1778
mg/kg for corms and leaves respectively after p.o. administra-
tion. A mixture (GDKE2) of three metabolites (saponins) iso- P2-59 N-Formyl- and N-Acetyl-Aporphine Alkaloids
lated from corms showed signs of toxicity similar to those noted of Tinospora crispa
for corms and leaves after i.p. administration and had an esti- P. Pachaly', A. Z. Adnan"2 and G. Will3
mated MLD for i.p. administration of 1—3 mg/kg. Leaves, Pharmazeutisches Institut, Kreuzbergweg 26, D-5300 Bonn 1,
corms, and GDKE2 showed hemolytic activity. Federal Republic of Germany
2 Phannaceutical
The plant material examined showed no antimicrobial or donesia
Department, Andalas University, Padang, In-
phototoxic activity. GDKE2 was found to be active against Mineralogisch und Petrologisches Institut der Universität Bonn,
Candida albicans. D.5300 Bonn 1, Federal Republic of Germany
References Tinospora crispa Miers (Menispermaceae) is one of the most
1. Watt, J. M., Breyer-Brandwijk, M. G. (1962) The medicinal and popular traditional drugs in Indonesia and other South-east
poisonous plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. Edinburgh, E. & Asian Countries. Stems are used to treat fever, stomach trou-
S. Livingstone. ble, and diarrhea.
2. Malone, M. H., Robichaud, R. C. (1962) Lloydia 30, 250. Known compounds of Tinospora crispa are quarternary al-
3. Van der Vijver, L. M., LUtter, A. P. (1971) Planta Med. 20,8. kaloids, berberine, palmatine, tembetarine (1), and a furano-
4. Weimarck, G., Nilsson, B. (1980) Planta Med 38,97. diterpene glycoside tinocrisposide (2). From the methanolic
extract of the stems of Tinospora crispa three further alkaloids
were isolated. A new aporphine alkaloid tinocrispicine (1) was
P2-58 Preliminary Chemical Study of the Alkaloids identified as a till now unknown N-formyl-1,2-di-
from the Fruits of Psychotria forsteriana methoxynoraporphine. The known alkaloids N-for-
Y. Adjibadet, B. Kuballat, P. Cabalion2, and mylanonaine(2; N-formyl-1 ,2-methylenedioxynoraporphine)
R. Anton1 and N-acetylnornuciferine(3; N-acetyl-1 ,2-dimethoxynorapor-
phine) are new compounds of Tinospora crispa.
Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Faculté de Pharmacie, B.P. 24, These alkaloids, as N,N-disubstituted amides, exist in
F-67401 Illkirch Cedex, France
2 ORSTOM CDCI,solution in two possible conformational isomers, which
were described as Z- and E-isomers (3, 4, 5, 6). The chemical
Psychotria forsteriana A. Gray (Rubiaceae) is a tropical shrub structure of substances were elucidated by high field and 2D-
endemic to the Vaté islands. In previous communications, we NMR-spectroscopical methods, and the absolute configuration
reported the isolation and identification of polyindolinic al- of N-formylanonaine was confirmed by X-ray crystallographi-
kaloids from Psychotria forsteriana stem bark (1). These al- cal analysis.
