Planta Med 1991; 57(3): 260-262
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960086
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Saponins of the Ivy Plant, Hedera helix, and their Leishmanicidic Activity

B. Majester-Savornin1 , R. Elias2 , A. M. Diaz-Lanza3 , G. Balansard2 , M. Gasquet1 , F. Delmas1
  • 1Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, F-13385 Marseille cédex 5, France
  • 2Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27, Boulevard Jean Moulin, F-13385 Marseille'cédex 5, France
  • 3Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université d'Alcalà de Hénares, Madrid, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

1990

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Antileishmanial activity is reported for the first time for saponins of ivy, Hedera helix L., in vitro on promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania tropica. The Compounds tested were an extract containing 60% of saponic complex (CS 60), the bidesmosides hederasaponin B, C and D (saponin K10), their corresponding monodesmosides α-, β-, and δ-hederin, and hederagenin. CS 60 and bidesmosides have shown no effect. Monodesmosides were found to be as effective on promastigote forms as the reference compound (pentamidine). Against amastigote forms only hederagenin exhibited a significant activity which was equivalent to that of the reference compound (N-methylglucamine antimonate).