Antimalarial activity of axidjiferosides, new β-galactosylceramides from the African sponge Axinyssa djiferi

Mar Drugs. 2013 Apr 17;11(4):1304-15. doi: 10.3390/md11041304.

Abstract

The marine sponge, Axinyssa djiferi, collected on mangrove tree roots in Senegal, was investigated for glycolipids. A mixture containing new glycosphingolipids, named axidjiferoside-A, -B and -C, accounted for 0.07% of sponge biomass (dry weight) and for 2.16% of total lipids. It showed a significant antimalarial activity, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.53 ± 0.2 μM against a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. They were identified as homologous β-galactopyranosylceramides composed of 2-amino-(6E)-octadec-6-en-1,3,4-triol, and the major one, axidjiferoside-A (around 60%), contained 2-hydroxytetracosanoic acid. Cytotoxicity was studied in vitro on human cancer cell lines (multiple myeloma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma and two lung cancer NSCLC-N6 and A549). Results of this investigation showed that axidjiferosides are of interest, because they proved a good antiplasmodial activity, with only a low cytotoxicity against various human cell lines and no significant antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activity. Thus, it seems that galactosylceramides with a β anomeric configuration may be suitable in searching for new antimalarial drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage
  • Antimalarials / isolation & purification
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Ceramides / administration & dosage
  • Ceramides / isolation & purification
  • Ceramides / pharmacology
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Galactosylceramides / administration & dosage
  • Galactosylceramides / isolation & purification
  • Galactosylceramides / pharmacology
  • Glycosphingolipids / administration & dosage
  • Glycosphingolipids / isolation & purification
  • Glycosphingolipids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mice
  • Monosaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Monosaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Monosaccharides / pharmacology
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Porifera / chemistry*
  • Senegal

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Ceramides
  • Galactosylceramides
  • Glycosphingolipids
  • Monosaccharides
  • beta-galactosyl ceramide
  • Chloroquine