CEPHASTIGIAMIDE A, AND ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITY OF CEPHALOTAXUS ALKALOIDS FROM CEPHALOTAXUS HARRINGTONIA FORMA FASTIGIATA

A new Cephalotaxus alkaloid, cephastigiamide A (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Cephalotaxus harringtonia forma fastigiata and the structure was elucidated by 2D NMR analysis and chemical degradation. Harringtonine, deoxyharringtonine., and homodeoxyharringtonine showed pronounced antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 but not against Leishmania major. Structure-activity relationship for antiplasmodial activity of isolated Cephalotaxus alkaloids was also discussed.