A Hexacyclic, Iboga-Derived Monoterpenoid Indole with a Contracted Tetrahydroazepine C-Ring and Incorporation of an Isoxazolidine Moiety, a Seco-Corynanthean, an Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma Bisindole with Anticancer Properties, and the Absolute Configuration of the Pyridopyrimidine Indole Alkaloid, Vernavosine

J Nat Prod. 2016 Oct 28;79(10):2709-2717. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00674. Epub 2016 Oct 19.

Abstract

Examination of the EtOH extract of the Malayan Tabernaemontana corymbosa resulted in the isolation of three new alkaloids, viz., cononuridine (1), an unusual hexacyclic, iboga-derived, monoterpenoid indole characterized by contraction of the tetrahydroazepine C-ring and incorporation of an additional isoxazolidine ring, taberisidine (2), a seco-corynanthean alkaloid, and conofolidine (3), an Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma bisindole that showed pronounced in vitro growth inhibitory activity against an array of human cancer cell lines, including KB, vincristine-resistant KB, PC-3, LNCaP, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, HT-29, and HCT 116 cells. The structures and absolute configurations of 1 and 3 and the absolute configuration of the novel pyridopyrimidine indole alkaloid vernavosine (4) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. A reasonable biosynthesis route to cononuridine starting from an iboga precursor is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic* / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic* / pharmacology
  • Aspidosperma / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Indole Alkaloids* / chemistry
  • Indole Alkaloids* / isolation & purification
  • Indole Alkaloids* / pharmacology
  • KB Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monoterpenes* / isolation & purification
  • Monoterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Tabernaemontana / chemistry
  • Vincristine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Monoterpenes
  • corynanthean
  • vernavosine
  • Vincristine