Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species.

ALEJANDRO TAPIA; GABRIELA EGLY FERESIN; DANIEL BUSTOS; LUIS ASTUDILLO; CRISTINA THEODULOZ; GUILLERMO SCHMEDA-HIRSCHMANN

JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

elsevier

Lugar: Leiden, The Netherlands; Año: 2000 vol. 71 p. 241 - 246

0378-8741

The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species and the exudate of P. flexuosa were assessed for DNA binding, â-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging effect using the DPPH decoloration assay. DNA binding effect was found mainly in the basic fraction. The alkaloids tryptamine as well as piperidine and phenethylamine derivatives were isolated from the basic extracts. At 0.50 mg/ml, DNA binding activities ranged from 28% for tryptamine to 0–27% for the phenethylamine and 47–54% for the piperidine derivatives. Tryptamine and 2-â-methyl-3-â-hydroxy-6-â-piperidinedodecanol showed a moderate inhibition (27–32%) of the enzyme â-glucosidase at 100 ìg/ml. The exudate of P. flexuosa displayed a strong free radical scavenger effect in the DPPH decoloration assay. The main active constituent was identified as catechin.