β-Carboline Alkaloids from the Seeds of Peganum harmala and Their Anti-HSV-2 Virus Activities.

Pegaharines A-G ( 1 - 6 ), six novel β-carboline alkaloids representing three types of skeleton, were isolated from the seeds of Peganum harmala . Compound 1 is a peculiar β-carboline alkaloid characterized by the unprecedented carbon skeleton of an azepine-indole system. Compounds 3 - 6 represent the first examples of heterodimers constructed from rare tetracyclic β-carboline and classic tricyclic β-carboline alkaloids. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 4 exhibited strong antiviral activity against HSV-2, with an IC ₅₀ value of 2.12 ± 0.14 μM.