Aplidiopsamine A, an Antiplasmodial Alkaloid from the Temperate Australian Ascidian, Aplidiopsis confluata

A polyaromatic alkaloid, aplidiopsamine A was isolated from the temperate Australian ascidian, Aplidiopsis confluata, and its structure was determined from interpretation of mass, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Aplidiopsamine A is the first alkaloid to possess the tricyclic aromatic substructure 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline conjugated to an adenine. Aplidiopsamine A exhibited significant inhibition of growth of chloroquine resistant and sensitive strains of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and minimal toxicity toward human cells.