Ervatamia coronaria: chemical constituents and some pharmacological activities.

A new bisindole alkaloid, 19,20-dihydroervahanine A was isolated from the stems of Ervatamia coronaria grown in Brazil, together with five known alkaloids: coronaridine, heyneanine, voacristine, voacamine, descarbomethoxyvoacamine and five phenolic acids: vanillic, gentisic, syringic, 4-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acid. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts, when administered p.o. or i.p. to rats 1 h before subplantar injection of carrageenin had a significant anti-inflammatory effect. The alcoholic extract also had an analgesic effect and increased the pentobarbital induced sleeping time.