Alkaloids from Lycoris caldwellii and their particular cytotoxicities against the astrocytoma and glioma cell lines

Arch Pharm Res. 2013 Aug;36(8):927-32. doi: 10.1007/s12272-013-0089-3. Epub 2013 Mar 24.

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the bulbs of Lycoris caldwellii afforded four new alkaloids, (+)-N-methoxylcarbonyl-nandigerine (1), (+)-N-methoxycarbonyl-lindcarpine (2), (+)-10-O-methylhernovine N-oxide (3), and (+)-3-hydroxy-anhydrolycorine N-oxide (4). Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. All the alkaloids were in vitro evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against eight tumor cell lines (BEN-MEN-1, CCF-STTG1, CHG-5, SHG-44, U251, BGC-823, HepG2, and SK-OV-3). Alkaloids 1 and 2 exhibited particular cytotoxic activities against astrocytoma and glioma cell lines with IC₅₀ of 9.2-11.3 μM and 10.4-12.2 μM respectively.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Alkaloids / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Astrocytoma* / drug therapy
  • Astrocytoma* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytotoxins / chemistry*
  • Cytotoxins / isolation & purification
  • Cytotoxins / therapeutic use
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / isolation & purification
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use
  • Glioma* / drug therapy
  • Glioma* / pathology
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lycoris*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Cytotoxins
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal