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L Angenot

Publications and source records attributed to L Angenot.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Chemical structure and pharmacological (curarizing) properties of various indole alkaloids extracted from an African Strychnos.

The chemical separation and identification of ten alkaloids extracted from the roots of Strychnos usambarensis are described. The elucidation of their structure by means of elementary analysis, I. R., U.V, and mass spectrometry allows their classification into bistertiary amines, hybrid and bisquaternary ammonium derivatives. This classification is reflected in the pharmacological properties. One of the tertiary amine alkaloids (usambarensine) presents atopine-like and spasmolytic activities while the bisquaternary ammonium compounds (dihydrotoxiferine, calebassine, C-curarine and afrocurarine) are competitive neuromuscular blocking agents.

Alkaloids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The plant alkaloid usambarensine intercalates into DNA and induces apoptosis in human HL60 leukemia cells.

Usambarensine is a plant alkaloid isolated from the roots of Strychnos usambarensis collected in Central Africa. This bis-indole compound displays potent antiamoebic activities and shows antigardial, antimalarial and cytotoxic effects. Usambarensine is highly toxic to B16 melanoma cells and inhibits the growth of leukemia and carcinoma cells. To date, the molecular basis for its diverse biological effects remains totally unknown. However, its capacity to inhibit nucleic acids synthesis in melanoma cells, on the one hand, and its structural analogy with DNA-binding pyridoindole plant alkaloids recently studied (cryptolepine and matadine), on the other hand, suggested that usambarensine could also bind to DNA. Consequently, we studied the strength and mode of binding to DNA of usambarensine by means of absorption, circular and linear dichroism. The results of the optical measurements indicate that the alkaloid effectively binds to DNA and behaves as a typical intercalating agent. Biochemical experiments indicated that, in contrast to cryptolepine and matadine, usambarensine does not interfere with the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II. Human HL60 leukemia cells were used to assess the cytotoxicity of the alkaloid and its effect on the cell cycle. Usambarensine treatment is associated with a loss of cells in the G1 phase accompanied with a large increase in the sub-G1 region which is characteristic of apoptotic cells. The DNA of usambarensine-treated cells was severely fragmented and the proteolytic activity of DEVD-caspases is enhanced. Usambarensine is thus characterized as DNA intercalator inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Alkaloids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine in potatoes by high-performance thin-layer chromatography/densitometry.

A high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method was used to determine the glycoalkaloids alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine in potatoes. Alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine are extracted from dehydrated potatoes with boiling methanol-acetic acid (95 + 5, v/v). The analytes are separated on a Silica Gel 60 F254 HPTLC plate by a saturated mixture of dichloromethane-methanol-water-concentrated ammonium hydroxide (70 + 30 + 4 + 0.4, v/v), which is used for vertical development of the plate up to a distance of 85 mm. For visualization, the plate is dipped 3 times into a modified Carr-Price reagent, 20% (w/v) antimony(III) chloride in acetic acid-dichloromethane (1 + 3, v/v), and subsequently heated on a hot plate at 105 degrees C for 5 min. The glycoalkaloids all appear as red chromatographic zones on a colorless background. Densitometric quantification is performed at 507 nm by reflectance scanning. After determination of the appropriate response function, the proposed method was validated. Good results with respect to linearity, accuracy, and precision were obtained in the concentration range studied.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Molecular modelling of usambarensine, tubulosine and emetine, cytotoxic amebicide alkaloids].

The analyses of the different possible conformations of usambarensine, tubulosine and emetine, which possess interesting cytotoxic and amoebicide properties showed us that they cannot take the planar conformation proposed to explain the activity of this type of molecules on protein synthesis. Nevertheless, a common (non planar) conformation exists where the angles between the two plans containing the aromatic rings are nearly the same for the three compounds. This fact could confirm the hypothesis of a common receptor which would be slightly different in amoebae because of its higher sensitivity to usambarensine.

Alkaloids↗