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Two pairs of enantiomeric diarylheptanoid-phenylpropanoid adducts bearing a cyclohexenone core, (±)-saccardianones A and B (1 and 2), an alkaloidal diarylheptanoid-phenylpropanoid adduct bearing a 4-piperidone core, (±)-saccardianine A (3), a pair of enantiomeric dimeric diarylheptanoid alkaloids bearing a tetrahydropyridine core, (±)-saccardianine B (4), and a suspected degradation product, saccardianine C (5), in addition to a known diarylheptanoid, platyphyllenone (6), were isolated from the leaves of Pellacalyx saccardianus. Their chemical structures were elucidated based on detailed analyses of the NMR and MS data. The structure of (±)-(1) was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds (±)-2 and 6 exhibited selective cytotoxicity towards the AsPC-1 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines, respectively.

Seven new tropane alkaloids, including five monomeric (1-5), one dimeric (6), and one trimeric (7) 3α-nortropane ester, along with two known monomeric nortropane alkaloids (8 and 9), were isolated from the leaves and bark of Pellacalyx saccardianus. Their structures, including the absolute configuration of the enantiomeric pair of (±)-6, were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Alkaloids 6 and 7 showed cytotoxicity toward human pancreatic cancer cell lines (AsPC-1, BxPC3, PANC-1, and SW1990). Alkaloids 1, 4, and 9 induced a smooth muscle relaxation effect comparable to that of atropine (Emax 106.1 ± 7.5%, 97.0 ± 5.2%, 100.9 ± 1.4%, 111.7 ± 1.7%, respectively) on isolated rat tracheal rings.

Schwarzinicines A–G (1–7), representing the first examples of 1,4-diarylbutanoid–phenethylamine conjugates, were isolated from the leaves of Ficus schwarzii. The structures of these compounds were determined by detailed analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1–4 exhibited pronounced vasorelaxant effects in the rat isolated aorta (Emax 106–120%; EC50 0.96–2.10 μM). However, compounds 1 and 2 showed no cytotoxic effects against A549, MCF-7, and HCT 116 human cancer cells (IC50 > 10 μM).

Four undescribed cucurbitacins, designated as petiolaticins A–D, and four known cucurbitacins were isolated from the bark and leaves of Elaeocarpus petiolatus (Jack) Wall. Their chemical structures were elucidated based on detailed analyses of the NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of petiolaticin A was also determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Petiolaticin A represents a cucurbitacin derivative incorporating a 3,4-epoxyfuranyl-bearing side chain, while petiolaticin B possesses a furopyranyl unit fused to the tetracyclic cucurbitane core structure. Petiolaticins A, B, and D were evaluated in vitro against a panel of human breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer cell lines. Petiolaticin A exhibited the greatest cytotoxicity against the MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and SW48 cell lines (IC50 7.4, 9.2, 9.3, and 4.6 μM, respectively). Additionally, petiolaticin D, 16α,23α-epoxy-3β,20β-dihydroxy-10αH,23βH-cucurbit-5,24-dien-11-one, and 16α,23α-epoxy-3β,20β-dihydroxy-10αH,23βH-cucurbit-5,24-dien-11-one 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were tested for their ability to inhibit cell entry of a pseudotyped virus bearing the hemagglutinin envelope protein of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Petiolaticin D showed the highest inhibition (44.3%), followed by 16α,23α-epoxy-3β,20β-dihydroxy-10αH,23βH-cucurbit-5,24-dien-11-one (21.0%), and 16α,23α-epoxy-3β,20β-dihydroxy-10αH,23βH-cucurbit-5,24-dien-11-one 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside showed limited inhibition (9.0%). These preliminary biological assays have demonstrated that petiolaticins A and D possess anticancer and antiviral properties, respectively, which warrant for further investigations.

Phytochemical investigations on the whole plant of Hippobroma longiflora (L.) G. Don have resulted in the isolation and elucidation of three new diphenethylpiperidine alkaloids, hippofoline A (1), hippofoline B (2), and (−)-cis-2′,2′′-diphenyllobelidiol N-oxide (5), alongside two known alkaloids, (−)-lobeline (3) and (−)-cis-2′,2′′-diphenyllobelidiol (4). The absolute configurations of alkaloids 1 and 2 were deduced based on experimental and calculated ECD data as well as biogenetic consideration, while the absolute configurations of alkaloids 3 and 4 in their free base form were confirmed by Cu Kα radiation X-ray diffraction analyses. Alkaloids 2–4 were shown to induce concentration-dependent relaxation effects on rat isolated tracheal rings that were pre-contracted with carbachol.

Schwarzinicines A-G (

From the leaves of Elaeocarpus tectorius (Lour.) Poir. four previously undescribed phenethylamine-containing alkaloids were isolated, namely, tectoricine, possessing an unprecedented isoquinuclidinone ring system incorporating a phenethylamine moiety, tectoraline, representing a rare alkamide incorporating two phenethylamine moieties, and tectoramidines A and B, representing the first naturally occurring trimeric and dimeric phenethylamine alkaloids incorporating an amidine function. The structures of these alkaloids were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of tectoricine was determined by comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Plausible biosynthetic pathways to the four alkaloids are proposed.

Alstobrogaline ( 1 ), an unusual monoterpenoid indole alkaloid incorporating a third N atom and possessing two aldimine functions, with one being in the form of N -oxide, was isolated from the leaves of Alstonia scholaris . Its structure and relative configuration were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, while its absolute configuration was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. A possible biogenetic pathway to 1 was proposed. Compound 1 displayed weak cytotoxic effects against MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Tengerensine (1), isolated as a racemate and constituted from a pair of bis-benzopyrroloisoquinoline enantiomers, and tengechlorenine (2), purified as a scalemic mixture and constituted from a pair of chlorinated phenanthroindolizidine enantiomers, were isolated from the leaves of Ficus fistulosa var. tengerensis, along with three other known alkaloids. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic data interpretation and X-ray diffraction analysis. The enantiomers of 1 were separated by chiral-phase HPLC, and the absolute configurations of (+)-1 and (−)-1 were established via experimental and calculated ECD data. Compound 1 is notable in being a rare unsymmetrical cyclobutane adduct and is the first example of a dimeric benzopyrroloisoquinoline alkaloid, while compound 2 represents the first naturally occurring halogenated phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid. Compound (+)-1 displayed a selective in vitro cytotoxic effect against MDA-MB-468 cells (IC50 7.4 μM), while compound 2 showed pronounced ...

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, alstoscholactine (1) and alstolaxepine (2), were isolated from Alstonia scholaris. Compound 1 represents a rearranged stemmadenine alkaloid with an unprecedented C-6-C-19 connectivity, whereas compound 2 represents a 6,7- seco-angustilobine B-type alkaloid incorporating a rare γ-lactone-bridged oxepane ring system. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 was successfully semisynthesized from 19 E-vallesamine. Compound 2 induced marked vasorelaxation in rat isolated aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine.