Synthesis of New Carbamates of the Alkaloid Songorine and Their Effects on Cancer Cell Growth.

Six new derivatives were synthesized by reacting the alkaloid songorine (1) with isocyanates. Their structures were confirmed by IR, mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectral methods. The effects of the obtained compounds on tumor cell growth in vitro were studied. 21-Ethyl-1-O-3′-chlorophenylcarbamate-15-hydroxy-4-methyl-16-methylene-7,20-cycloveatchan-12-one (3c) exhibited cytotoxicity against HeLa and HEp-2 lines at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. The other songorine derivatives caused dose-dependent proliferation of cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]