Planta Med 2012; 78 - P_33
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1307541

Antileishmanial Activity of Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids

HMTB Hereath 1, BL Tekwani 1, NPD Nanayakkara 1
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

The imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta venom is mainly comprised of three trans-2-methyl-6-alkylpiperidines [solenopsins A (1), B (2), and C (3)] and two trans-2-methyl-6-alkenyl piperidines [dehydrosolenopsins B (5) and C (5)]. Varying amounts of three cis-2-methyl-6-alkylpiperidines [isosolenopsins A (6), B (7) and C (8)] are also found to be present in the venom of different types of ants. Previously, we described the stereospecific synthesis of these compounds [1] and their antimicrobial activities [2]. These compounds also exhibited good activity against Leishmania donovani (IC50=0.68–3.5µg/mL).

References: [1] Herath HMTB, et al. (2008)J Heterocyclic Chem 45: 129–136. [2] Sullivan DC, et al. (2009) Am J Med Sci 338: 287–291.