A neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) based bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation on Simarouba berteroana led to the isolation of one new canthin-6-one-9-methoxy-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), seven known canthine alkaloids (2-8), two known quassinoids (9-10) and a known neo-lignan (11). The structures of all compounds were established by HRMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR analysis and comparison with previously reported data. Most of the compounds inhibited the proliferation of an Nf1- and p53-deficient mouse glioma cell line at non-cytotoxic concentrations.
Keywords: Neurofibromatosis type 1; Simarouba berteroana; canthine alkaloids; glioblastomas; growth inhibition.