Bioactive azafluorenone alkaloids from polyalthia debilis (Pierre) finet and gagnep

Abstract

This study investigated bioactive extracts of Polyalthia debilis (Annonaceae) with antimicrobial, antimalarial and cytotoxic activities. Extensive chromatographic isolations provided azafluorenone alkaloids; onychine (1) and 7-methoxyonychine (2) together with a mixture of β–sitosterol and stigmasterol. The two alkaloids were isolated from the P. debilis for the first time. Isolated fractions containing a mixture of triterpenoids (C7, C8 and C9) exhibited the most potent antimicrobial activity against many bacterial strains with minimum inhibitory concentration of 64 μg/mL. Fractions with antimalarial and cytotoxic activities were also observed. The findings suggest the potential use of P. debilis in medicinal applications.