NEW ALKALOID FROM Aspidosperma polyneuron ROOTS

摘要

Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) has been the subject of chemical investigations and pharmacological studies, which have revealed the significant presence of alkaloids. These studies indicated that the indole alkaloids identified in several species of this genus present several pharmacological activities, among them antimalarial action against Plasmodium falciparum, present in several tropical and sub-tropical areas. Malaria represents the major parasitic infection, with the most severe forms caused by P. falciparum [1]. It is an important endemic disease in the tropics, and about two million cases are registered a year in more than 100 countries of Africa, Asia, Oceania, Central and South America. The study of this species becomes important in the search for new anti-malarial agents, because P. falciparum has become resistant to traditional treatments.