A new alkaloid, geissospermiculatine was characterized in Geissospermum reticulatum A. H. Gentry bark (Apocynaceae). Here, following a simplified isolation protocol, the structure of the alkaloid was elucidated through GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, 1D, and 2D NMR (COSY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC, 1H-15N HMBC). Cytotoxic properties were evaluated in vitro on malignant THP-1 cells, and the results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of the alkaloid (30 μg/mL) was comparable with staurosporine (10 μM). Additionally, the toxicity was tested on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in vivo by monitoring their development (0-72 h); toxicity was not evident at 30 μg/mL.
Keywords: Apocynaceae; Danio rerio; Geissospermum reticulatum; NMR; alkaloids; cytotoxic effects.