Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative prenylated carbazole alkaloids from Clausena vestita

Twelve prenylated carbazole alkaloids, containing a novel prenylated carbazole alkaloid, named as clausevestine (1), and 11 known prenylated carbazole alkaloids (2–12), were isolated and identified from the stems and leaves of Clausena vestita, which is a Chinese endemic plant. The chemical structure of 1 was established by means of comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses and the known compounds were determined via comparing their NMR and MS data as well as optical rotation values with those reported in literature. Especially, clausevestine (1) is an unusual prenylated carbazole alkaloid possessing an unprecedented carbon skeleton holding 20 carbon atoms. The anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities of those isolated prenylated carbazole alkaloids were tested. Prenylated carbazole alkaloids 1–12 displayed remarkable inhibitory effects on NO (nitric oxide) production with IC₅₀ values equivalent to that of the positive control (hydrocortisone). Meanwhile, prenylated carbazole alkaloids 1–12 exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activities against diverse human cancer cell lines in vitro holding the IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.32 ± 0.04 to 18.76 ± 0.18 µM. These findings indicate that these prenylated carbazole alkaloids possessing remarkable anti-inflammatory effects and antiproliferative activities could be meaningful to the discovery of new anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor candidate drugs.     

Effects of over-expression of strictosidine synthase and tryptophan decarboxylase on alkaloid production by cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus

Cells of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don were genetically engineered to over-express the enzymes strictosidine synthase (STR; EC 4.3.3.2) and tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC; EC 4.1.1.28), which catalyze key steps in the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). The cultures established after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation showed wide phenotypic diversity, reflecting the complexity of the biosynthetic pathway. Cultures transgenic for Str consistently showed tenfold higher STR activity than wild-type cultures, which favored biosynthetic activity through the pathway. Two such lines accumulated over 200 mg · L⁻¹ of the glucoalkaloid strictosidine and/or strictosidine-derived TIAs, including ajmalicine, catharanthine, serpentine, and tabersonine, while maintaining wild-type levels of TDC activity. Alkaloid accumulation by highly productive transgenic lines showed considerable instability and was strongly influenced by culture conditions, such as the hormonal composition of the medium and the availability of precursors. High transgene-encoded TDC activity was not only unnecessary for increased productivity, but also detrimental to the normal growth of the cultures. In contrast, high STR activity was tolerated by the cultures and appeared to be necessary, albeit not sufficient, to sustain high rates of alkaloid biosynthesis. We conclude that constitutive over-expression of Str is highly desirable for increased TIA production. However, given its complexity, limited intervention in the TIA pathway will yield positive results only in the presence of a favorable epigenetic environment. Received: 12 June 1997 / Accepted: 24 October 1997     

19-hydroxycoronaridin und 19-hydroxyibogamin,zwei antibiotisch wirksame alkaloide vom ibogamin-typ

During the separation of an extract from Tabernaemontana glandulosa, small amounts of a new alkaloid were obtained for which the structure 19-hydroxycoronaridine was deduced. This new alkaloid and 19-hydroxyibogamine, which can be obtained from it, show marked antibiotic activity in the agar plate diffusion test.     

Peptide alkaloids of Scutia buxifolia

Two new components, the peptide alkaloid scutianine D and scutianene C have been isolated from Scutia buxifolia and their structures elucidated. The configuration of some of the asymmetric centers of scutianine A has been determined by gas chromatography.     

Alkaloids of Aconitum ferox

From the roots of Aconitum ferox four alkaloids have been isolated. Pseudaconitine is the major constituent and the other three minor alkaloids are identified as bikhaconitine, veratroyl pseudaconine and diacetyl pseudaconitine. Veratroyl pseudaconine and diacetyl pseudaconitine have not been previously found in nature.     

Glucosides from the roots of Capparis tenera

Two new lignan glucosides, compounds 2 and 3, two new 1H-indole-alkaloid glucosides, 5 and 6, as well as two new phenolic glucosides, 7 and 10, were isolated from the roots of Capparis tenera, together with five known compounds. Their structures were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Most of these isolates were obtained for the first time from Capparidaceae. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the new compounds were investigated.     

响应面法优化飞龙掌血中总生物碱的提取工艺

以飞龙掌血（Toddalia asiatica（L.）Lam.）的根为实验材料,以总生物碱的含量为检测指标,应用响应面法对飞龙掌血中总生物碱的提取工艺进行了优化。结果显示,当提取条件为乙醇体积分数74.76%、料液比20∶1和提取时间32.87 min时,飞龙掌血提取物中总生物碱的理论含量值可达11.09 mg/g,总生物碱含量达到最高值。按照最佳提取工艺条件进行验证,3次平行实验的均值为（10.74 ±0.18）mg/g,与理论值差异较小,表明利用响应面法来优化飞龙掌血中总生物碱的最佳提取工艺模型拟合良好,具有一定实用价值。     

Opium poppy and Madagascar periwinkle: model non-model systems to investigate alkaloid biosynthesis in plants

Alkaloids represent a large and diverse group of compounds that are related by the occurrence of a nitrogen atom within a heterocyclic backbone. Unlike other types of secondary metabolites, the various structural categories of alkaloids are unrelated in terms of biosynthesis and evolution. Although the biology of each group is unique, common patterns have become apparent. Opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum ), which produces several benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, and Madagascar periwinkle ( Catharanthus roseus ), which accumulates an array of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, have emerged as the premier organisms used to study plant alkaloid metabolism. The status of these species as model systems results from decades of research on the chemistry, enzymology and molecular biology responsible for the biosynthesis of valuable pharmaceutical alkaloids. Opium poppy remains the only commercial source for morphine, codeine and semi-synthetic analgesics, such as oxycodone, derived from thebaine. Catharanthus roseus is the only source for the anti-cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine. Impressive collections of cDNAs encoding biosynthetic enzymes and regulatory proteins involved in the formation of benzylisoquinoline and monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are now available, and the rate of gene discovery has accelerated with the application of genomics. Such tools have allowed the establishment of models that describe the complex cell biology of alkaloid metabolism in these important medicinal plants. A suite of biotechnological resources, including genetic transformation protocols, has allowed the application of metabolic engineering to modify the alkaloid content of these and related species. An overview of recent progress on benzylisoquinoline and monoterpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in opium poppy and C. roseus is presented.     

New stemona alkaloids from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia

From the roots of Stemona sessilifolia, three new stemona-type alkaloids, namely stemosessifoine (1), isooxymaistemonine (2), and isomaistemonine (3), along with eight known alkaloids (bisdehydrostemoninine, isobisdehydrostemoninine, tuberostemonine, bisdehydrotuberostemonine, bisdehydrostemoninine, isobisdehydrostemoninine, stemoninine, and protostemonine), were isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive 2D-NMR spectroscopic-data analysis and by comparison with reported values in the literature. Compound 1 is a structurally unprecedented alkaloid, and it is depicted to be bioconverted from tuberostemonine as the precursor. Isooxymaistemonine (2) showed a positive effect on the human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor gene CD36 and LIMP II analogous-1 (CLA-1) at the dosage of 10 microg/ml.