Structurally Diverse Alkaloids from the Seeds of Peganum harmala

J Nat Prod. 2017 Feb 24;80(2):551-559. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b01146. Epub 2017 Jan 27.

Abstract

Investigation of the alkaloids from Peganum harmala seeds yielded two pairs of unique racemic pyrroloindole alkaloids, (±)-peganines A-B (1-2); two rare thiazole derivatives, peganumals A-B (3-4); six new β-carboline alkaloids, pegaharmines F-K (5-10); and 12 known analogues. Their structures, including stereochemistry, were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses, quantum chemistry calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Notably, the incorporation of pyrrole and indole moieties in peganines A-B, thiazole fragments in peganumals A-B, and a C-1 α,β-unsaturated ester motif in pegaharmine F (5) are all rare, and their presence in the genus Peganum were demonstrated for the first time. All isolates were tested for antiproliferative activities against the HL-60, PC-3, and SGC-7901 cancer cell lines, and compounds 9, 11, 12, and 13 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 4.36-9.25 μM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Carbolines / chemistry
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / isolation & purification*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Indole Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Indole Alkaloids / isolation & purification*
  • Indole Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Peganum / chemistry*
  • Seeds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Carbolines
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Indole Alkaloids