The Difference in Cytotoxic Activity between Two Optical Isomers of Gelsemine from Gelsemium elegans Benth. on PC12 Cells

Molecules. 2019 May 25;24(10):2004. doi: 10.3390/molecules24102004.

Abstract

Two optical isomers, +/- gelsemine (1, 2), together with one known compound were isolated from the whole plant of G. elegans. The structures of the separated constituents were elucidated on 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMBC, HSQC) NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The isolated alkaloids were tested in vitro for cytotoxic potential against PC12 cells by the MTT assay. As a result, (+) gelsemine (compound 1) exhibited cytotoxic activity against PC12 cells with an IC50 value of 31.59 μM, while (-) gelsemine (compound 2) was not cytotoxic.

Keywords: Gelsemium elegans; PC12 cells; gelsemine; koumine.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Gelsemium / chemistry*
  • Indole Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Indole Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Structure
  • PC12 Cells
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Rats

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Plant Extracts
  • koumine
  • gelsemine