DISCOVERIES

ANTI-HIV ALKALOIDS

Source Plant

Two anti-HIV alkaloids, nitidine and magnoflorine, were found in Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. originally collected in the Mufindi District of Iringa Region of Tanzania in November of 1988 (Gereau 2501).

Chemical Structure

 Nitidine

 Magnoflurine

Activity

Nitidine inhibited human lymphoblastoid cell killing by HIV-1 and magnoflorine revealed less robust anti-HIV activity with a maximum cytoprotection of only 50%. Nitidine was previously known from Toddalia. Magnoflorine, although previously unknown in Toddalia, was known from three other genera of Rutaceae: Fagara, Phebalium, and Zanthoxylum.

Reference

Rashid, M. A., K. R. Gustafson, Y. Kashman, J. H. Cardellina II, J. B. McMahon, and M. R. Boyd. 1995. Anti-HIV alkaloids from Toddalia asiatica. Nat. Prod. Lett. 6:153-156.

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