Antiplasmodial Diterpenoids from Psiadia arguta

An ethyl acetate extract of Psiadia arguta leaves showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 12.3 ± 2.4 μg/mL (3D7 strain) and 13.5 ± 3.4 μg/mL (W2 strain). Phytochemical investigation led to the isolation and characterization of 16 compounds including four new diterpenoids: labdan-8α-ol-15-yl-(formate) (1), labdan-8α-ol-15-yl-(2-methylbutanoate) (2), labdan-8α-ol-15-yl-(3-methylpentanoate) (3), and labdan-8α-ol-15-yl-(labdanolate) (4). The latter compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, and IR). The in vitro antiplasmodial activities of all compounds were evaluated. The known compounds labdan-13(E)-en-8α-ol-15-yl acetate (5), labdan-8α-ol-15-yl acetate (6), 13-epi-sclareol (7), labdan-13(E)-ene-8α,15-diol (8), and (8R,13S)-labdane-8α,15-diol (9) exhibited antiplasmodial effects, with IC50 values of 29.1, 33.2, 35.0, 36.6, and 22.2 μM, respectively.