Ursolic Acid as a Trypanocidal Constituent in Rosemary

Fumiko Abe; Tatsuo Yamauchi; Tsuneatsu Nagao; Junei Kinjo; Hikaru Okabe; Hiroo Higo; Hiroshige Akahane

doi:10.1248/bpb.25.1485

Notes

Ursolic Acid as a Trypanocidal Constituent in Rosemary

Fumiko Abe, Tatsuo Yamauchi, Tsuneatsu Nagao, Junei Kinjo, Hikaru Okabe, Hiroo Higo, Hiroshige Akahane

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Keywords: Rosmarinus officinalis, trypanocidal activity, Trypanosoma cruzi, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2002 Volume 25 Issue 11 Pages 1485-1487

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.25.1485

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Abstract

The MeOH extract of the leaves of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) completely inhibited the motility of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi at the concentration of 2 mg/ml after 2 h of incubation. Activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract has resulted in the isolation of three triterpene acids, betulinic, oleanolic and ursolic acids. Ursolic acid stopped the movement of all T. cruzi epimastigotes at the minimum concentration (MC₁₀₀) of 40 μg/ml (88 μM) after 48 h of incubation. Oleanolic acid was less active (MC₁₀₀: 250 μg/ml, 550 μM) and betulinic acid was practically inactive.

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