ChimpanzeesSteroid Glucosides from against Parasite - related

VRrnonia amygdoiina is a tropical African plant possibly used by wild chimpanzees fbr medicinal purposes.'} We have previously reported new bitter steroid glucosides, vernonioside Ai-A3, and a related vernonioside Bi from this plant,2'3) As another class of bitter constituents, four known cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones were also isolated,`} The most possible use of this plant by chimpanzeas was suggested to be a medicine against parasiterelated diseases; this idea is based on both the symptoms of the chimpanzee (loss of appetite, lethargy, constipation, dark colored urine, and apparent abdominal discomfort) (M, A. Huflman, personal communication) and local use of the plant by humans.S) Schistosomiasis is one of the most common parasitosis throughout Africa. Here, we exarnined antischistosomal activities of the sesquiterpene lactones (vernodalin, 1; vernolide, 2; hydroxyvernolide, 3; vernodalol, 4), and the steroid glucosides (vernonioside Ai, 5; A2, 6; A3, 7; Bi, 8) including their aglycones (7a, 8a, and 8b) (Fig, 1) using Schistosoma japonicum. Adult pairs of schistosomes (S. J'qponicum) were obtained