Pimprinine, an extracellular alkaloid produced by Streptomyces CDRIL-312: fermentation, isolation and pharmacological activity.

Pimprinine, an extracellular alkaloid has been isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptomyces CDRIL-312. Pimprinine was subsequently purified using silica gel column chromatography and also by preparatory thin layer chromatography. Some physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activities (in-vitro) and pharmacological activities of pimprinine were studied. Pimprinine showed promising anticonvulsant activity in both minimum and maximum electric seizure threshold test in mice. Its anticonvulsant activity is very much comparable to that of phenyl hydantion sodium. Pimprinine also inhibited effectively tremorine-induced tremors and analgesia in mice.