No / Chemical investigation of nonindigenous Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis by Raman spectroscopy resulted in the identification of carotenoids and indolic alkaloids. Comparison of Raman data obtained for the in situ and crude extracts has shown the potential of the technique for characterizing samples which are metabolic fingerprints, by means of band analysis. Raman bands at ca. 1520, 1160, and 1005 cm–1 assigned to ν1(C═C), ν2(C—C), and ρ3(C—CH3) modes were attributed to astaxanthin, and the band at 1665 cm–1 could be assigned to the ν(C—N), ν(C—O), and ν(C—C) coupled mode of the iminoimidazolinone from aplysinopsin. The antioxidant activity of the crude extracts has also been demonstrated, suggesting a possible role of these classes of compounds in the studied corals.

Mono- and bis-aspidosperma indole alkaloid natural products have been shown to be cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines and are potential leads in therapeutics against diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Tabersonine, a monoterpene indole alkaloid isolated from the family Apocynaceae, was known to be the bio-synthetic precursor of its mono and dimeric analogs, including vindoline, conophylline, and vinblastine. The first synthesis of bis-aspidosperma indole alkaloid (–)-melodinine K was achieved in a chemoenzymatic fashion, featuring the T16H hydroxylation and the biomimetic dimerization via the Polonovski-Potier reaction. Moreover, eight tabersonine derivatives bearing one or two hydroxy or methoxy groups at C15-C17 were synthesized up to grams scale via a halogenation/borylation/oxidation sequence. These analogs exhibited potent inhibitory activities against cancer cells with GI50 values in the single digit micromolar level. This research on aspidosperma indole alkaloids could help guide the development of future cancer therapeutics as well as elucidate their biosynthetic pathways.Histone deacetylases (HDACs), regulating gene expression and multiple cellular activities, are important biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. In this project, a group of fluorescent S-acetamidomethyl homocysteine-containing molecules were designed and synthesized to monitor HDAC’s activity and elucidate the temporal and spatial dynamics of HDACs in live cells. The free thiol warhead, released from the probe upon deacetylation by HDACs, would trigger an intramolecular Michael Addition to the coumarin-derived fluorophore and induce a blue shift for the fluorescence, which could be applied to the quantitative ratiometric study of HDACs. It provides a modular platform for discovering and developing class-/isoform-specific HDAC probes and future therapeutic lead compounds through modifications of fluorophores, C-terminal amino acids, and the capping acyl groups. / Chemistry

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / Aspidosperma ulei Markgr, popularmente conhecida como pitià ou piquiÃ, apresenta-se como uma Ãrvore com casca Ãspera e acinzentada. No presente trabalho foi realizado o estudo fitoquÃmico dos extratos etanÃlicos das folhas de Aspidosperma ulei, alÃm de uma reinvestigaÃÃo fitoquÃmica do caule e raiz de um espÃcime coletado na localidade Garapa, MunicÃpio de Acarape, no estado do CearÃ. Para os extratos etanÃlicos dos lenhos do caule e raiz e da casca da raiz foram realizados tratamentos por extraÃÃo Ãcido/base para obtenÃÃo das fraÃÃes alcaloÃdicas. Para as folhas e a casca do caule, alÃquotas dos extratos etanÃlicos de ambas foram submetidas a cromatografias convencionais sobre sÃlica gel e por CLAE, possibilitando o isolamento do triterpeno Ãcido ursÃlico, um derivado do inositol, o metil-chiro-inositol e dos alcaloides indÃlicos β-ioimbina, ioimbina, 3,4,5,6-tetra-desidro-β-ioimbina, 19,20-desidro-17α-ioimbina e 19(E)-hunteracina. Das fraÃÃes alcaloÃdicas dos lenhos do caule e da raiz foram obtidos por CLAE, 20(E)-17-nor-subincanadina E, relatado pela primeira vez como produto natural, alÃm do Ãcido 12-hidroxi-N-acetil-21(N)-desidro-plumerano-18-Ãico, um alcaloide indÃlico tambÃm inÃdito como produto natural. Da fraÃÃo alcaloÃdica da casca da raiz foram obtidos por CLAE a uleÃna, 20-epi-dasicarpidona, 20-epi-N-nordasicarpidona, N-desmetiluleÃna, olivacina e a δ-lactona booneÃna. O Ãcido ursÃlico e a 20(E)-17-nor-subincanadina E foram submetidos a testes de atividade citotÃxica e apresentaram resultados significativos frente a 4 linhagens de cÃlulas tumorais. A identificaÃÃo e caracterizaÃÃo dos compostos isolados foram realizadas por tÃcnicas espectroscÃpicas como IV, EM e RMN uni e bidimensional, inclusive tÃcnicas como HSQC, NOESY, COSY e HMBC, alÃm de comparaÃÃo com dados da literatura. / Aspidosperma ulei Markgr. popularly known as pitià or piquiÃ, is a tree of a rough and gray trunk bark. This work reports the phytochemical analysis of the leaves, and the re-investigation of the trunk and roots of an A. ulei specimen collected at the locality of Garapa- Acarape Country â Cearà State. The ethanol extracts of all parts were obtained. Acid/base extraction was performed with the extracts from the trunk and root heartwoods and root bark, in order to obtain the alkaloids fraction. For the leaves and trunk bark small portions of the ethanol extract were submitted to conventional chromatography over silica gel followed by semipreparative HPLC to afford the triterpene ursolic acid, an inositol derivative the methyl-chiro-inositol, and the alkaloids β-yohimbine, yohimbine, 3,4,5,6-tetradehydro-β-yohimbine, 19,20-dehydro-α-yohimbine and 19(E)-hunteracine. From the alkaloidal fractions of the trunk and the root heartwood, were obtained, by semi preparative HPLC, the alkaloids 20(E)-17-nor-subincanadine E, reported for the first time for the species and also an natural product, and the 12-hydroxy-N-acetyl-21(N)-dehydro-plumeran-18-oic acid, on unknown indole alkaloid. From the alkaloidal fraction of the root bark, after semipreparative HPLC, were obtained the indole alkaloids uleine, 20-epi-dasycarpidone, 20-epi-N-nordasycarpidone, N-noruleine, olivacine and the booneine lactone. Ursolic acid and 20(E)-17-nor-subincanadine E were assayed as citotoxic and showed significative results against four tumour cell lines. The identification and characterization of all compounds were realized by means of spectroscopic techniques such as IR, MS and uni and bidimensional NMR, including pulse sequences such as HSQC, NOESY, COSY and HMBC, after comparison to the literature data.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / O material vegetal (raiz e caule) de Aspidosperma ulei Markgf (Apocinaceae), popularmente conhecida como PÃtia, foi coletada na localidade de Garapa, no municÃpio de Acarape, CearÃ. Neste trabalho, alÃquotas dos extratos etanÃlicos da casca da raiz e da casca do caule de A. ulei foram submetidas a cromatografias sobre sephadex e/ou sÃlica gel, e CLAE, possibilitando o isolamento dos alcalÃides (+)-20(S)uleÃna (AU-1). (+)-20S-dasicarpidona (AU-2), (-)-16, 19-dimetil-3, 5, 14, 21-tetra-hidro-elipticina (AU-3), (-)-β-ioimbina (AU-4), (-)-20(S)-N-desmetil-uleÃna (AU-5), (+)-15(S)-18-hidroxi-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadina E (AU-7) e (+)-15(S)-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadina E (AU-8), e o derivado do inositol (-)-D-1-O-metil-myo-inositol (AU-6). Desses alcalÃides, (+)-15(S)-18-hidroxi-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadina E (AU-7) e (+)-15(S)-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadina E (AU-8) sÃo inÃditos na literatura como produtos naturais, embora o Ãltimo jà tenha sido caracterizado como intermediÃrio de sÃnteses de alcalÃides de Stryenos. A identificaÃÃo e caracterizaÃÃo dos compostos isolados foi realizada por tÃcnicas espectromÃtricas como I. V e RMN uni- e bidimensional, inclusive tÃcnicas contemporÃneas como HSQC editado, HSQC-TOCSY e 1H,X-HMBC (X = 13C ou 15N). Estudos farmacolÃgicos de uma fraÃÃo do extrato etanÃlico da casca da raiz de A. ulei, rica em alcalÃides, realizados no Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia da UFC, pelo Prof. V. S. N. Rao, demonstrou o efeito prÃ-erectil dessa fraÃÃo em ratos, em trÃs casos distintos: ereÃÃo peniana, tipo-ereÃÃo e similar a ereÃÃo. InjeÃÃo intraperitonial da fraÃÃo (25 a 50 mg/Kg), possibilitou observar efeitos semelhantes ao efeito observado para a ioimbina (2 mg/Kg). Esses estudo apÃia o uso tradicional de extratos de espÃcies de Aspidosperma em deficiÃncias orgÃnicas erÃteis. / The material (root and stem) of Aspidosperma ulei Markgf (Apocinaceae), popularly known as PitiÃ, was collected in the locality of Garapa, Acarape County, CearÃ. In this work, aliquots of the ethanol extracts of the root and of the stem barks of A. ulei were submitted to chromatographic analysis in sephadex and silica gel , and CLAE, making possible the isolation of the alkaloids (+)-20(S)uleÃne (AU-1). (+)-20(S)-dasicarpidone (AU-2), (-)-16, 19-dimethyl-3, 5, 14, 21-tetra-hydro-ellipticine (AU-3), (-)-β-yohimbine (AU-4), (-)-20(S)-N-demethyl-uleine (AU-5), (+)-15(S)-18-hidroxy-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadine E (AU-7) and (+)-15(S)-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadine E (AU-8), and a inositol derivative, the (-)-D-1-O-methyl-myo-inositol (AU-6). The alkaloid, (+)-15(S)-18-hidroxy-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadine E (AU-7) and (+)-15(S)-20(Z)-16, 17-nor-subincanadine E (AU-8) are related for the first time as natural product, but the last one has been characterization as an intermediary of the Stryenosâ alkaloids synthesis. The identification and characterization of the isolated compounds was accomplished by IR and 1D and 2D NMR techniques, mainly contemporary techniques as edited HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY and 1H,X-HMBC (X = 13C or 15N). Pharmacological studies of an alkaloid rich fraction of the root bark of A. ulei, accomplished in the Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia da UFC by Prof. V. S. N. Rao. Demonstrated the pro-erectile effect of that fraction in three cases: penile erection, erection-like and genital grooming in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of the fraction (25 to 50 mg/Kg), shown all three different responses similar to yohimbine (2 mg/Kg). This study further supports the traditional use of extracts from Aspidosperma species in erectile dysfunctions.

Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) is the exclusive source of an array of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) that are used in the treatments of hypertension and certain types of cancer. TIA biosynthesis is under stringent spatiotemporal control and is induced by jasmonate (JA) and fungal elicitors. Tryptamine, derived from the indole branch, and secologanin from the iridoid branch are condensed to form the first TIA, strictosidine. Biosynthesis of TIA is regulated at the transcriptional level and several transcription factors (TFs) regulating the expression of genes encoding key enzymes in the pathway have been isolated and characterized. The JA-responsive APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF), ORCA3, and the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor, CrMYC2, are the key activators of the TIA biosynthesis. Recently, two other TFs, the bHLH IRIDOID SYNTHESIS 1 (BIS1) and BIS2 were also identified as regulators of TIA pathway. Analysis of C. roseus genome sequence has revealed that ORCA3 forms a physical cluster with two uncharacterized AP2/ERFs, ORCA4 and ORCA5. In plants, physically linked clusters of TFs are less characterized. Moreover, the regulation of TF clusters is relatively unexplored. My research uncovered that the ORCA gene cluster is differentially regulated. ORCA4 and ORCA5, while functionally overlapping with ORCA3, regulate an additional set of TIA pathway genes. ORCA4 or ORCA5 overexpression has resulted in significant increase of TIA accumulation in C. roseus hairy roots. In addition, ORCA5 directly regulates the expression of ORCA4 and indirectly regulates ORCA3, likely via unknown factor(s). Interestingly, ORCA5 also activates the expression of ZCT3, a negative regulator of the TIA pathway. In addition CrMYC2 is capable of activating ORCA3 and co-regulating pathway genes concomitantly with ORCA3. Several lines of evidence suggest that, in addition to the transcriptional control, biosynthesis of TIAs is also controlled at the posttranslational level, such as protein phosphorylation. Available literature indicates that a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is involved in this process. Analysis of C. roseus MAP kinome, identified two independent MAPK cascades regulating the indole and iridoid branches of the TIA pathway. We showed that the ORCA cluster and CrMYC2 act downstream of a MAP kinase cascade consisting of CrMAPKK1, CrMAPK3 and CrMAPK6. Overexpression of CrMAPKK1 in C. roseus hairy roots upregulates TIA pathway genes expressions and boosts TIA accumulation. The other cascade, consisting of CrMAPKK6 and CrMAPK13, mostly regulates the iridoid branch of the TIA pathway. Overexpression of CrMAPK13 in C. roseus hairy roots significantly upregulates iridoid pathway genes and boosts tabersonine accumulation. Moreover, we recently identified the third MAPK cascade, consisting of CrMAPKK1 and CrMAPK20, that negatively regulates the indole branch of the TIA pathway. Overexpression of CrMAPK20 in C. roseus hairy roots represses the genes regulated by CrMYC2-ORCAs and reduces catharanthine accumulation. These findings significantly advance our understanding of transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms that govern TIA biosynthesis in C. roseus.

Les alcaloïdes indolo-monoterpéniques (AIMs) constituent une classe de molécules naturelles très étudiée en raison d’un fort potentiel pharmacologique et thérapeutique et d’une grande diversité structurale. D’autre part, les techniques de déréplication par chromatographie liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse tandem ont évolué récemment, avec l’émergence de l’approche par réseaux moléculaires (molecular networking). Dans ce contexte, nous avons créé une base de données de spectres de masse tandem moyennés de 172 AIMs témoins, en collaboration avec plusieurs équipes de pharmacognosie dans le monde. Cette base de données, nommée MIADB (Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids DataBase), rendue publique, peut être utilisée comme référence dans des stratégies de déréplication fondées sur l’utilisation des réseaux moléculaires. Nous avons ensuite exploité la MIADB pour l’étude phytochimique de deux Apocynaceae : Geissospermum laeve (Vell.) Miers et Alstonia balansae Guillaumin. Dans un premier temps, l’annotation par la MIADB d’un extrait alcaloïdique des écorces de G. laeve a permis l’isolement et l’élucidation structurale de 3 nouveaux AIMs, dont deux à motif butyrolactone. Par la suite, notre approche a été améliorée par l’emploi du nouvel outil d’annotation in silico MetWork, fondé sur une prédiction métabolique et la modélisation de spectres de masse tandem. C’est ainsi que l’exploration de l’espace chimique d’un extrait alcaloïdique des feuilles d’A. balansae a permis l’identification, puis l’isolement, de 5 nouveaux AIMs du type N-oxyde-sarpagane. La stéréochimie des nouveaux composés a pu être déterminée par l’exploitation de spectres prédits et expérimentaux de dichroïsme circulaire éléctronique.Ce manuscrit décrit, après une introduction consacrée notamment aux emplois du molecular networking pour le ciblage et la découverte de petites molécules naturelles puis aux interconnections biosynthétiques en série AIM, la création puis l’évolution de la MIADB, puis son utilisation dans un workflow de déréplication efficace et de ciblage de nouveaux composés dans des mélanges complexes issus d’Apocynaceae. / Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) constitute a class of natural products that has been extensively studied due to its important pharmacological and therapeutic potentials, and to its large structural diversity. Dereplication techniques based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry have recently evolved, with the implementation of molecular networking-based approaches.In this context, we have created a spectral database that encompasses the averaged tandem mass spectra of 172 reference MIAs, in collaboration with several pharmacognosy research teams around the world. This database, named MIADB (standing for Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids DataBase), was made publicly available and can be used as a reference in the application of molecular networking as a dereplication strategy. Thereafter, we used the MIADB to carry out the phytochemical investigation of two Apocynaceae species: Geissospermum laeve (Vell.) Miers and Alstonia balansae Guillaumin. As a first application, the MIADB-based annotation of an alkaloid extract of the barks of G. laeve led to the isolation and the structural elucidation of three new MIAs, two having a butyrolactone moiety. Afterwards, this approach was improved by the application of a new tool for in silico annotation called MetWork, which is based on metabolic prediction and on the generation of predicted tandem mass spectra. Following this approach, the exploration of the chemical space of an alkaloid extract of the leaves of A. balansae allowed the anticipation and further isolation of five novel MIAs of the N-oxide-sarpagine type. The stereochemistry of all the new molecules could be determined on the basis of experimental and predicted electronic circular dichroism spectra.In the introduction of this manuscript the multiple uses of molecular networking for the identification of small natural molecules are described, as well as the biosynthetic interconnections in the MIAs group. The creation and evolution of the MIADB are then presented, followed by its utilization in efficient dereplication workflows for the targeting of new natural products within complex mixtures from Apocynaceae species.

V. Hojgrová: Alkaloids of Vinca minor L. and their biological activity VIII. Diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany. Number of pages 69. This diploma thesis deals with the isolation of alkaloids from Vinca minor L. from the family Apocynaceae. Separation of alkaloids from the selected fraction (VM 215-258) or from their subfractions (VM 34-41, VM 86, VM 87-113) was performed by preparative TLC. Two pure alkaloids were isolated from the subfraction (VH 34-41). The first VH-1 alkaloid not yet isolated and the second VH 2 alkaloid: (-)-raucubainin. Alkaloids were identified by EI-MS, LC-MS, NMR and optical rotation and were compared with data in the literature. Isolated alkaloids were tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and prolyloligopeptidase (POP) inhibitory activity and for cytotoxicity. Both substances did not show significant cholinesterase inhibitory activity IC50 against AChE after measurement, only (-)-raucubainin showed a slight activity against BuChE (IC50 = 94 ± 7 μM), VH-1 was found to be inactive (IC50 > 100 μM). POP inhibitory activity has so far only been tested for (-)-raucubainin; was found to be inactive (IC50 > 1000 µM). The results of the cytotoxic activity of the alkaloids...

1 9 ABSTRACT Jurkaninová, M.: Vinca minor L. alkaloids and their biological activity I. Diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Hradec Králové, 2019 The aim of this thesis was the isolation of alkaloids from selected fraction 3 (joined fractions (15 - 36), which was a sub-fraction of the fraction VM 323 - 327. It was obtained from the previous processing of an alkaloidal extract from the Vinca minor L at the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany as a part of elaboration of diploma thesis of Aneta Vítavcová.[78] The fraction VM 323-327 was separated by column chromatography on silica gel and a totally, of 7 subfractions were obtained. Subsequent repeated processing of the selected sub-fraction 3 (15 - 36) by preparative TLC on silica gel resulted in the isolation of (-)-vinoxine and its racemate (±)-vinoxine. Identification of their structure was determined based on MS, NMR and optical rotation. The inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholiesterase and prolyl oligopeptidase were determined for the isolated substances. Inhibitory activity against selected enzymes was measured by spectrophotometric methods. Isolated alkaloids were required to be inactive against AChE and POP (IC50 >1000 μM), against to BChE showed a...

A avaliação química das folhas de Psychotria umbellata levou a identificação de quatro alcalóides pertencente ao grupo dos indol monoterpenos glicosilados, sendo psicolatina a substância majoritária. Em estudos subseqüentes, psicolatina apresentou importantes efeitos farmacológicos provavelmente relacionados com a modulação de receptores opióides, serotonérgicos 5-HT2A/C e glutamatérgicos NMDA. Assim, considerando-se a relevância das atividades biológicas descritas para psicolatina e a necessidade do estabelecimento inequívoco das características estruturais e conformacionais de compostos farmacologicamente ativos, os objetivos principais deste trabalho foram a caracterização conformacional de psicolatina e a avaliação do efeito de tratamento agudo e sub-crônico com este composto sobre os níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios e regiões cerebrais de roedores. A avaliação conformacional de psicolatina permitiu a caracterização de quatro confôrmeros caracterizados como mínimos de energia: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. As constantes de acoplamento teóricas (3JH,H) calculadas para esses confôrmeros apresentaram boa correlação com os dados experimentais de RMN, sendo que os melhores resultados foram observados para as conformações obtidas por RM1. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos e ratos submetidos a tratamento agudo com psicolatina 7,5 mg/kg. No entanto, nos córtices pré-frontais dos roedores submetidos a tratamento agudo foram verificados aumentos estatisticamente significativos nos níveis dos aminoácidos excitatórios e de glutamina. Os camundongos submetidos ao tratamento agudo apresentaram elevações de 42,46 %, 50,93 % e 35,18 % nos níveis de aspartato, glutamato e glutamina, respectivamente. Os ratos submetidos ao mesmo esquema de tratamento, por sua vez, apresentaram aumentos de 43,36 % e de 57,11% nas concentrações de glutamato e glutamina. Assim como observado para o tratamento agudo, o tratamento sub-crônico com psicolatina por um período de 18 dias não provocou alterações significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos. Em córtices préfrontais, porém, os animais tratados com psicolatina apresentaram diminuição de 28,86 % nos níveis de glutamina. O presente estudo, corroborando dados anteriores sugere que psicolatina administrada por via intraperitoneal apresenta ação sobre o sistema nervoso central, uma vez que provocou alterações no perfil de aminoácidos excitatórios em córtex pré-frontal. / Phytochemical analyses of Psychotria umbellata leaves identified the presence of four monoterpene indole alkaloids, being psychollatine the main compound. In subsequent pharmacological investigations, psychollatine showed some important biological activities, including analgesic, anxiolytic, antidepressive and amnesic effects in mice models. These data indicate that this compound is able to modulate different neurotransmitter systems, including opioid, 5-HT2A/C and NMDA receptors. This way, considering the relevance of the pharmacological activities showed by psychollatine and the necessity of the unequivocally determination of the conformational and structural features of biologically actives compounds, the goals of this work were the conformational characterization of psychollatine and the evaluation of acute and chronic treatment with this compound on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rodents. From the conformational analyses, four minimum energy conformations were evaluates for psychollatine: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. The theoretical coupling constants calculated for all these conformers (3JH,H) presented a good agreement with the experimental data, mainly for the conformations obtained by RM1. No significant differences were observed on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus of mice and rats submitted to acute treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg. Nevertheless, in prefrontal cortex of rodents submitted to acute treatment with this compound were observed increases on the excitatory amino acids and glutamine levels. Mice submitted to acute treatment with these alkaloid presented increases of 42.46 %, 50.93 % and 35.18 % on the aspartate, glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively, and rats submitted to acute treatment presented increases of 43.36 % and 57.11% on the glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively. Such as verified for the acute treatment, the chronic treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg, during 18 days, did not cause significant alterations on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in mice hippocampus. However, significant decrease on the glutamine levels (28.86 %) was observed in the prefrontal cortex of mice treated with this alkaloid during 18 days. The present work, supporting previous data, suggests that psychollatine presents effects on the central nervous system (CNS), since this compound caused alterations on the amino acids levels on prefrontal cortex.

A avaliação química das folhas de Psychotria umbellata levou a identificação de quatro alcalóides pertencente ao grupo dos indol monoterpenos glicosilados, sendo psicolatina a substância majoritária. Em estudos subseqüentes, psicolatina apresentou importantes efeitos farmacológicos provavelmente relacionados com a modulação de receptores opióides, serotonérgicos 5-HT2A/C e glutamatérgicos NMDA. Assim, considerando-se a relevância das atividades biológicas descritas para psicolatina e a necessidade do estabelecimento inequívoco das características estruturais e conformacionais de compostos farmacologicamente ativos, os objetivos principais deste trabalho foram a caracterização conformacional de psicolatina e a avaliação do efeito de tratamento agudo e sub-crônico com este composto sobre os níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios e regiões cerebrais de roedores. A avaliação conformacional de psicolatina permitiu a caracterização de quatro confôrmeros caracterizados como mínimos de energia: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. As constantes de acoplamento teóricas (3JH,H) calculadas para esses confôrmeros apresentaram boa correlação com os dados experimentais de RMN, sendo que os melhores resultados foram observados para as conformações obtidas por RM1. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos e ratos submetidos a tratamento agudo com psicolatina 7,5 mg/kg. No entanto, nos córtices pré-frontais dos roedores submetidos a tratamento agudo foram verificados aumentos estatisticamente significativos nos níveis dos aminoácidos excitatórios e de glutamina. Os camundongos submetidos ao tratamento agudo apresentaram elevações de 42,46 %, 50,93 % e 35,18 % nos níveis de aspartato, glutamato e glutamina, respectivamente. Os ratos submetidos ao mesmo esquema de tratamento, por sua vez, apresentaram aumentos de 43,36 % e de 57,11% nas concentrações de glutamato e glutamina. Assim como observado para o tratamento agudo, o tratamento sub-crônico com psicolatina por um período de 18 dias não provocou alterações significativas nos níveis de aminoácidos excitatórios e inibitórios em hipocampos de camundongos. Em córtices préfrontais, porém, os animais tratados com psicolatina apresentaram diminuição de 28,86 % nos níveis de glutamina. O presente estudo, corroborando dados anteriores sugere que psicolatina administrada por via intraperitoneal apresenta ação sobre o sistema nervoso central, uma vez que provocou alterações no perfil de aminoácidos excitatórios em córtex pré-frontal. / Phytochemical analyses of Psychotria umbellata leaves identified the presence of four monoterpene indole alkaloids, being psychollatine the main compound. In subsequent pharmacological investigations, psychollatine showed some important biological activities, including analgesic, anxiolytic, antidepressive and amnesic effects in mice models. These data indicate that this compound is able to modulate different neurotransmitter systems, including opioid, 5-HT2A/C and NMDA receptors. This way, considering the relevance of the pharmacological activities showed by psychollatine and the necessity of the unequivocally determination of the conformational and structural features of biologically actives compounds, the goals of this work were the conformational characterization of psychollatine and the evaluation of acute and chronic treatment with this compound on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rodents. From the conformational analyses, four minimum energy conformations were evaluates for psychollatine: 1EaCc, 1EaCd, 1EbCc e 1EbCd. The theoretical coupling constants calculated for all these conformers (3JH,H) presented a good agreement with the experimental data, mainly for the conformations obtained by RM1. No significant differences were observed on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in hippocampus of mice and rats submitted to acute treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg. Nevertheless, in prefrontal cortex of rodents submitted to acute treatment with this compound were observed increases on the excitatory amino acids and glutamine levels. Mice submitted to acute treatment with these alkaloid presented increases of 42.46 %, 50.93 % and 35.18 % on the aspartate, glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively, and rats submitted to acute treatment presented increases of 43.36 % and 57.11% on the glutamate and glutamine levels, respectively. Such as verified for the acute treatment, the chronic treatment with psychollatine 7.5 mg/kg, during 18 days, did not cause significant alterations on the excitatory and inhibitory amino acids levels in mice hippocampus. However, significant decrease on the glutamine levels (28.86 %) was observed in the prefrontal cortex of mice treated with this alkaloid during 18 days. The present work, supporting previous data, suggests that psychollatine presents effects on the central nervous system (CNS), since this compound caused alterations on the amino acids levels on prefrontal cortex.