Bioactive Compounds from Picrasma Quassioides and Their Pharmacological Effects

Picrasma quassioides, a member of the Simaroubaceae family, is a rich source of quassinoids and alkaloids that exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. Quassinoids, a class of highly oxygenated triterpenoids, have been associated with potent antimalarial, antitumour and insecticidal effects, while β-carboline and canthinone alkaloids display anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. Advances in analytical separation and spectrometric techniques have uncovered over 90 distinct phytochemicals in P. quassioides extracts, revealing intricate structure–activity relationships. Preclinical studies demonstrate that specific quassinoids inhibit inflammatory mediators via suppression of nuclear factor-κB pathways, whereas canthinone derivatives interfere with microbial growth and modulate nitric oxide synthase expression in macrophages. Agricultural applications have also emerged, with canthinone analogues showing selective inhibition of phytopathogens. Despite promising bioactivities, toxicological evaluations underscore the need for careful dose optimisation. The global significance of these findings spans drug discovery, quality control of traditional formulations and the development of natural-product-derived agrochemicals.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A pioneering methodology established a self-feedback mass spectrometry network for comprehensive profiling of β-carboline alkaloids in P. quassioides. By integrating liquid chromatography–quadrupole-time-of-flight data into a dynamic ion network, researchers succeeded in de novo identification of multiple isomeric alkaloids without authentic standards. The network approach enabled rapid structural annotation, elucidated substitution patterns and facilitated discovery of low-abundance compounds. This framework offers a blueprint for untargeted metabolite mapping in complex herbal matrices, accelerating characterisation of bioactive constituents in natural-product research.

Bioactive Compounds from Picrasma Quassioides and Their Pharmacological Effects publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive compounds from picrasma quassioides and their pharmacological effects across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Quassinoids: Highly oxidised triterpenoid derivatives characteristic of Simaroubaceae, noted for antimalarial and cytotoxic activities.

β-Carbolines: Tetrahydro- and fully aromatic heterocyclic alkaloids with neuromodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

Canthinones: Polycyclic aromatic alkaloids derived from β-carbolines, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties.

UHPLC-Orbitrap-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry: An advanced hyphenated technique combining ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometric analysis for precise compound identification.

Self-feedback mass spectra network: A computational strategy that links diagnostic ions to construct dynamic networks of mass spectrometric data, enabling de novo annotation of complex natural-product mixtures without reference standards.

References

1. Canthin-6-Ones: Potential Drugs for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases by Targeting Multiple Inflammatory Mediators. Molecules (2023).
2. Phytochemistry, Traditional Use and Pharmacological Activity of Picrasma quassioides: A Critical Reviews. Nutrients (2020).
3. Bioassay-Guided Interpretation of Antimicrobial Compounds in Kumu, a TCM Preparation From Picrasma quassioides’ Stem via UHPLC-Orbitrap-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Combined With Fragmentation and Retention Time Calculation. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021).
4. A self-feedback network based on liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry for system identification of β-carboline alkaloids in Picrasma quassioides. Scientific Reports (2017).