Bioactives from Ethiopian torch lilies.
With the participation of the IPB, scientists have published a study on bioactives from Ethiopian torch lilies (Kniphofia foliosa Hochst). They analyzed the biological activity of the phenylanthraquinone derivatives knipholone and knipholone anthrone in human cell lines and pathogens.
The researchers verified insights from previous studies on the cytotoxicity and antiplasmodic activity of both bioactives. While they were able to show that knipholone inhibts replication of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), it is important to point out that the inhibition was associated with a cytotoxic effect on uninfected HIV host cells. Furthermore, the study shows for the first time that knipholone anthrone is oxidized to knipholone in culture medium. Due to this instability, the previously demonstrated biological effects of knipholone anthrone must be taken with caution and discriminated against the effects of the degradation products.
