Next Article in Journal
Primary Biliary Cholangitis: Immunopathogenesis and the Role of Bile Acid Metabolism in Disease Progression
Previous Article in Journal
Partial eNOS Deficiency Results in Greater Levels of Vascular Inflammation and BBB Disruption in Response to Chronic Mild Hypoxia
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJMS
Volume 26
Issue 16
10.3390/ijms26167904
ijms-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity Against Helicobacter pylori

by
Andreia T. Marques
1,
Luís Tanoeiro
1,
Angela Paterna
2,†,
Maria Filomena Caeiro
3,
David Cardoso
2,
Silva Mulhovo
4,
Joana S. Vital
1,
Ana Carolina Pimentel
1,
Maria-José U. Ferreira
2 and
Filipa F. Vale
1,*
1
BioISI—Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
2
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
3
cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
4
Centro de Estudos Moçambicanos e de Etnociências (CEMEC), Faculdade de Ciências Naturais e Matemática, Universidade Pedagógica Campus de Lhanguene, Av. de Moçambique,Maputo 21402161, Mozambique
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Present address: National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cell-Tech Hub and Institute of Biophysics, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7904; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167904
Submission received: 30 June 2025 / Revised: 30 July 2025 / Accepted: 2 August 2025 / Published: 15 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection, a leading cause of gastric ulcers and gastric cancer, presents a major health challenge, exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of plant-derived compounds, isolated from different plant species, against H. pylori. Thus, a library of 153 natural compounds and derivatives, including monoterpene indole and bisindole alkaloids, obtained from the African medicinal plant Tabernaemontana elegans was screened in vitro for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against H. pylori. Active compounds (1-7) were tested for anti-biofilm activity and cytotoxicity on VERO cells to determine their half-maximal cytotoxic concentrations (CC50). Six monoterpene indole alkaloid azine derivatives (1-6) and vobasinyl-iboga type bisindole alkaloid (7) displayed antibacterial activity, with MICs between 10 and 20 µM. Compounds 2, 3, and 6 exhibited bactericidal activity, with MBCs of 20 µM. Notably, compounds 1 to 4 inhibited H. pylori biofilm formation at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Cytotoxicity assays revealed CC50 values above MICs, indicating a favorable safety profile for potential therapeutic use. This study highlights the potential of T. elegans monoterpene indole alkaloids as antibacterial agents and supports further exploration of plant-derived compounds as alternative treatments for H. pylori, offering a promising approach to address antibiotic resistance in gastrointestinal diseases.
Keywords: medicinal plants; Helicobacter pylori; cytotoxicity; antibiotic resistance; antibacterial activity; biofilm inhibition; mechanism of action; gastrointestinal diseases medicinal plants; Helicobacter pylori; cytotoxicity; antibiotic resistance; antibacterial activity; biofilm inhibition; mechanism of action; gastrointestinal diseases

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Marques, A.T.; Tanoeiro, L.; Paterna, A.; Caeiro, M.F.; Cardoso, D.; Mulhovo, S.; Vital, J.S.; Pimentel, A.C.; Ferreira, M.-J.U.; Vale, F.F. Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity Against Helicobacter pylori. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 7904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167904

AMA Style

Marques AT, Tanoeiro L, Paterna A, Caeiro MF, Cardoso D, Mulhovo S, Vital JS, Pimentel AC, Ferreira M-JU, Vale FF. Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity Against Helicobacter pylori. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(16):7904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167904

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marques, Andreia T., Luís Tanoeiro, Angela Paterna, Maria Filomena Caeiro, David Cardoso, Silva Mulhovo, Joana S. Vital, Ana Carolina Pimentel, Maria-José U. Ferreira, and Filipa F. Vale. 2025. "Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity Against Helicobacter pylori" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 16: 7904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167904

APA Style

Marques, A. T., Tanoeiro, L., Paterna, A., Caeiro, M. F., Cardoso, D., Mulhovo, S., Vital, J. S., Pimentel, A. C., Ferreira, M.-J. U., & Vale, F. F. (2025). Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Antimicrobial Activity Against Helicobacter pylori. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(16), 7904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167904

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop