Voacamine is an indole alkaloid derived from members of the Voacanga species, indigenous to Africa. In the Pacific region,voacamine was successfully isolated from the small tree, Voacanga papuana, indigenous to New Guinea by Ritchie and Taylor, University of Sydney, Australia in 1965. Voacamine enhances the cytotoxic effect of vinblastine against multidrug resistant KB cells. Voacamine enhances the cytotoxic effect of vinblastine against multidrug resistant KB cells, and is active against protozoa, including Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi, inhibiting protozoal topoisomerase IB.
| Molecular Formula | C43H52N4O5 |
| References | Guise GB et al (1965) Some constituents of Rejoua aurantiaca Gaud. and Voacanga papuana (F. Muell.) K. Schum. Aust. J. Chem. 18:927 Quevauviller A. et al (1955) Pharmacology of the alkaloids of Voacanga species. Ann.Pharma Franc. 13:423 Ramanitrahasimbola D.et al (2001) Biological activities of the plant-derived bisindole voacamine with reference to malaria. Phytother. Res. 15:30 You M et al (1994) Indole alkaloids from Peschiera laeta that enhance vinblastine-mediated cytotoxicity with multidrug-resistant cells. You M. J. Nat. Prod. 57:1517 |