Chemical and Antiplasmodial Investigations on Eremophila-Derived Alkaloids and Semisynthetic Ether Analogues

J Nat Prod. 2024 Apr 26;87(4):849-854. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c01072. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Abstract

Microthecaline A (1), the known antiplasmodial quinoline serrulatane alkaloid from the roots of Eremophila microtheca F. Muell. ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae), was targeted for isolation and subsequent use in the generation of a semisynthetic ether library. A large-scale extraction and isolation yielded the previously undescribed quinoline serrulatane microthecaline B (2), along with crystalline 1 that enabled the first X-ray crystallographic analysis to be undertaken on this rare alkaloid structure class. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 supported the absolute configuration assignment of microthecaline A, which was originally assigned by ECD data analysis. Microthecaline A (1) was converted into 10 new semisynthetic ether derivatives (3-12) using a diverse series of commercially available alkyl halides. Chemical structures of the new serrulatane alkaloid and semisynthetic ether analogues were assigned by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. Antiplasmodial evaluations of 1-12 showed that the semisynthetic derivative 5 elicited the most potent activity with an IC50 value of 7.2 μM against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (drug-sensitive) strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids* / chemistry
  • Alkaloids* / isolation & purification
  • Alkaloids* / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials* / chemistry
  • Antimalarials* / isolation & purification
  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Eremophila Plant / chemistry
  • Ethers / chemistry
  • Ethers / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Plasmodium falciparum* / drug effects
  • Quinolines / chemistry
  • Quinolines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Alkaloids
  • Quinolines
  • Ethers