Planta Med 2011; 77 - P_24
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273553

Antileishmanial Alkaloids from Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

HRW Dharmaratne 1, BL Tekwani 1, NPD Nanayakkara 1
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677

A previous study [1] has shown in vitro antileishmanial activity for piperine (1), the major alkaloid of black pepper (Piper nigrum). In our search for safe antileishmanial leads from natural sources we undertook investigation of seeds P. nigrum to establish structure activity relationships for piperine alkaloids. The methylene chloride extract of P. nigrum seeds showed moderate activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Activity-guided fractionation of this extract led to the identification of five active alkaloids, piperine (1), scutifoliamide-A (2) retrofractamide-D (3), nigramide-E (4), dipiperamide-B (5) and several inactive compounds. Tetrahydropiperine (6), the reduced product of piperine (1) showed no antileishmanial activity.

Acknowledgements: This work is supported by US Department of Defense CDMRP grant # W81XWH-09.

References: [1] Kapil A (1993) Planta Medica, 59: 474.