Biological activities of the plant-derived bisindole voacamine with reference to malaria

Phytother Res. 2001 Feb;15(1):30-3. doi: 10.1002/1099-1573(200102)15:1<30::aid-ptr680>3.0.co;2-t.

Abstract

The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of voacamine was assessed in a 4-day test. It was shown to exhibit in vivo activity with 25.4% and 43.4% inhibition of parasitaemia with 2.5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. In synchronized cultures, it was found to act on trophozoite and schizont stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Using the FMC29 strain of Plasmodium falciparum as parasite and the isobologram curve as a method to assess interaction in drug combination, it was shown to lack any chloroquine-enhancing activity and its in vitro antiplasmodial effect was not potentiated by the chemosensitizer malagashanine.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Drug Synergism
  • Ibogaine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ibogaine / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium yoelii / drug effects*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Antimalarials
  • malagashanine
  • voacamine
  • Ibogaine
  • Chloroquine