Synthesis, hypolipidemic and antifungal activity of tetrahydroberberrubine sulfonates

The paper describes the synthesis of new tetrahydroberberrubine derivatives containing polyfl uorophenyl- or alkylsulfonate groups at the O(9) position as well as those containing or not containing a bromine atom at the C(12) position. In a model of acute Triton-induced hyperlipidemia, tetrahydroberberrubine 9-O-(heptafluoro-4'-toluene)sulfonate was shown to reduce the cholesterol level by 23.5%, which is comparable with the eff ect of Simvastatin. At a concentration of 32 g mL(-1), tetrahydroberberrubine 9-O-pentafluorobenzenesulfonate inhibits the growth of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans by 81.3 +/- 3.5%.