Inhibition of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase by alkaloids. II.

Abstract

The structure-inhibitory activity relationships were studied in analogous alkaloids from Picrasma quassioides and Ailanthus altissima, and their derivatives. Altogether, 53β-carboline, 18 canthinone and 7 dimeric alkaloids were tested for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase inhibition. Major alkaloids (10, 63 and 74) among the three groups of congeners in Picrasma quassioides and Ailanthus altissima showed the most potent inhibitory activity, equal to or greater than that of papaverine used as a reference.