Antimicrobial properties of alkaloids from Xanthorhiza simplicissima

J Pharm Sci. 1994 Mar;83(3):404-6. doi: 10.1002/jps.2600830327.

Abstract

The organic extract of the whole plant Xanthorhiza simplicissima was found to exhibit good activity against the AIDS-related opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Mycobacterium intracellularae. Bioassay-directed fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of the known alkaloid berberine as the major active component. A second alkaloid of the isohomoprotoberberine family, puntarenine, was isolated from this plant family for the first time. Puntarenine also showed marginal activity against the dermatophytic fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Alkaloids / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Benzazepines / isolation & purification
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology
  • Berberine / isolation & purification
  • Berberine / pharmacology
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • North America
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Quinolones / isolation & purification
  • Quinolones / pharmacology
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Benzazepines
  • Plant Extracts
  • Quinolones
  • Berberine
  • puntarenine