Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of<i>Peschiera australis</i>

Abstract

Seven indole alkaloids (coronaridine, tabersonine, olivacine, coronaridine-hydroxyindolenine, catharinensine, decarbomethoxyvoacamine AND tabernamine) were isolated from Peschiera australis in Brazil. Four phenolic acids (vanillic acid, syringic acid, gentisic acid AND salicylic acid) were also found. Crude extracts of P. australis seeds AND leaves showed in vivo antineoplastic activity against two experimental tumor models: Ehrlich's carcinoma AND Sarcoma 180. Aqueous AND alcohol leaf extracts administered to rats 1 h before subplantar carrageenan injection had a significant dose-related anti-inflammatory effect. The same extracts also showed analgesic activity against acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing.