Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Corydalis ochotensis and their antitumor bioactivity.
Methods: The compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis (NMR) and physicochemical properties. Their cytotoxic activity was studied by MTT.
Results: Six compounds were elucidated as protopine (1), ochotensimine (2), fumariline (3), sanguinarine (4), tetrahydroberberine (5) and berberine (6). Compound 1 had excellent inhibitory activity on HepG2, SW480 and A549 cells, and compound 4 had excellent inhibitory activity on Hep2, HepG2, SW480 and A549 cells.
Conclusion: Compounds 3, 4 and 5 are isolated from this plant for the first time; In the MTT antitumor experiments,compounds 1 and 4 show an antitumor activity.