Antileishmanial Steroidal Alkaloids from Roots of Sarcococca coriacea

Abstract

Bio-assay guided isolation of secondary metabolites from the plant Sarcococca coriacea (Hook. f.) yielded two steroidal alkaloids, alkaloid C (1) and iso-N-formylchonemorphine (2). The structures of compounds were identified by different spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant anti-leishmanial activities IC₅₀ = 13.20 ± 0.05 µM and 24.76 ± 0.01 µM, respectively, in comparison with standard drugs pentamidine IC₅₀ = 8.58 ± 0.04 µM and amphotericin B IC₅₀ = 0.31 ± 0.05 µM.