Alkaloids from the aerial parts of express immunomodulatory activity.

A new type aporphine-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid leptofumarine () was isolated from L. The structure of was elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. Leptofumarine together with the previously isolated leptopyrine () were evaluated for their effect on macrophages and bone marrow (BM) cells . Both alkaloids inhibited cytokine production by LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Leptopyrine suppressed osteoclast and osteoblast formation, while leptofumarine affected only osteoblastogenesis.