cryptolepine cryptolepine cryptolepine is an alkaloid with antimalarial and cytotoxic properties, in vitro and in mice. it is able to intercalate into dna at the cytosine-cytosine sites. because of its toxicity, cryptolepine is not considered appropriate for use as an anti-malarial drug in humans. cryptolepine names preferred iupac name 5-methyl-5h-indoloquinoline identifiers cas number 480-26-2 y 3d model (jsmol) interactive image chebi chebi:3930 chembl chembl92129 chemspider 74137 kegg c09142 pubchem cid 82143 unii of1uit4rdh y comptox dashboard (epa) dtxsid6037645 inchi inchi=1s/c16h12n2/c1-18-15-9-5-2-6-11(15)10-14-16(18)12-7-3-4-8-13(12)17-14/h2-10h,1h3key: kurwkddwcjelsv-uhfffaoysa-n smiles n2=c1c(c=cc=c1)=c4c2=cc3ccccc3n4c properties chemical formula c16h12n2 molar mass 232.286 g·mol−1 except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). infobox references cryptolepine can be found in the roots of the west african plant, cryptolepis sanguinolenta.