Minor alkaloids from Guatteria dumetorum with antileishmanial activity.

Nine known alkaloids [(+)-isodomesticine (1), (+)-norisodomesticine (2), (+)-nantenine ( 3), (+)-neolitsine (4), (+)-lirioferine (5), (+)-N-methyllaurotetanine (6), (+)-norlirioferine (7), (+)-isoboldine (8) and (+)-reticuline (9)] were isolated from young leaves of Guatteria dumetorum. Their structures were confirmed by NMR, mass and UV spectral analysis and by comparison to literature data. The growth inhibitory activity of each alkaloid was determined against the parasite Leishmania mexicana. Compounds 1-4 all showed significant activity whereby potency increased when a methylenedioxy functionality was present, especially at the 1,2-positions.