Open AccessBerberine derivatives as antileishmanial drugs
Author(s) -
Jonathan L. Vennerstrom,
James K. Lovelace,
Virginia B. Waits,
William L. Hanson,
Daniel L. Klayman
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.34.5.918
Subject(s) - berberine , leishmania donovani , alkaloid , leishmania , pharmacology , biology , leishmania braziliensis , leishmaniasis , traditional medicine , cutaneous leishmaniasis , medicine , immunology , botany , visceral leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science
Berberine, a quaternary alkaloid, and several of its derivatives were tested for efficacy against Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis panamensis in golden hamsters. Tetrahydroberberine was less toxic and more potent than berberine against L. donovani but was not as potent as meglumine antimonate (Glucantime), a standard drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Only berberine and 8-cyanodihydroberberine showed significant activity (greater than 50% suppression of lesion size) against L. braziliensis panamensis.