The bis(Indolyl)imidazole alkaloid nortopsentin a exhibits antiplasmodial activity

Abstract

A library of enriched marine natural product fractions was screened for their antiplasmodial activity using a SYBR green I fluorescence-based assay. Fractions derived from a sponge of the genus Spongosorites exhibited potent inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth. This genus of sponge has been reported to contain the nortopsentin and topsentin class of bis-indole imidazole alkaloids. This is the first report of nortopsentin A inhibiting parasite growth at the trophozoite stage at submicromolar 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50). Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.