Alkaloids from the root of Indonesian Annona muricata L

Annona muricata L. has been used traditionally in Indonesia to treat disease. Phytochemical studies on the alkaloid fractions from the root of Annona muricata L. from Malang-Indonesia resulted in the isolation of an unreported benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (+)-xylopine 5 as well as four known alkaloids (1–4). The crude methanol extract and alkaloid fractions were tested against Plasmodium falciparum K1 and against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter buamanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) with insignificant activities (MIC > 32 µg/mL). Individual alkaloids were tested against a human suspension cancer cell line (HL-60 leukemia cells) and two human fibroblastic cancer cell lines (A549 lung cancer cells and HepG2 liver cancer cells) in which compound 5 was the most toxic alkaloid with IC₅₀ values ranging from 20 to 80 µM.