Planta Med 2010; 76 - P345
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264643

New aporphine alkaloids and cytotoxic constituents from the root of Illigera luzonensis

JJ Chen 1, HC Hung 1, PJ Sung 2, I Chen 3, WL Kuo 4
  • 1Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, No. 20, Weishin Rd., Yanpu Shiang, Pingtung 907, Taiwan
  • 2National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
  • 3Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
  • 4Chung Jen College of Nursing, Health Science and Management, Chiayi 600, Taiwan

Illigera luzonensis Merr. (Hernandiaceae) is a scandent shrub distributed in Philippines, Ryukyus, and southern Taiwan [1]. Aporphine alkaloids, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, lignans, and their derivatives are widely distributed in plants of the family Hernandiaceae [2], [3]. Many of these compounds exhibit various biological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-platelet aggregation, vasorelaxing, antioxidant, and antiplasmodial activities [2], [3]. In our studies on the anti-cancer constituents of Formosan plants, many species have been screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity, and I. luzonensis has been found to be an active species. Five new aporphine alkaloids, (S)-N-butyrylcaaverine (1), (S)-N-propionylcaaverine (2), (S)-N-acetylcaaverine (3), (6aR,7R)-N-butyrylnorushinsunine (4), and (6aR,7R,E)-N-(but-2-enoyl)norushinsunine (5), and fifteen known compounds have been isolated and identified from the root of I. luzonensis. Among the isolates, (–)-yatein exhibited cytotoxicities, with IC50 values of 0.81, 0.20, and 0.59µg/mL, respectively, against DLD-1, CCRF-CEM, and HL-60 cell lines. (6aR,7R)-N-Butyrylnorushinsunine (4) exhibited cytotoxicities, with IC50 values of 5.45 and 3.66µg/mL, respectively, against DLD-1 and IMR-32 cell lines. In addition, N-phenethylcinnamamide exhibited cytotoxicities, with IC50 values of 6.84 and 5.79µg/mL, respectively, against DLD-1 and CCRF-CEM cell lines.

References: 1. Li, H.I. et al. (1996) Hernandiaceae. In: Flara of Taiwan, 2nd edition. Editotial Committee of the Flora of Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan: Vol. 2: 500–503.

2. Conserva, L.M. et al. (2005) The Alkaloids, Academic Press, San Diego, Vol. 54: 175–243.

3. Lakshmi, V. et al. (2009) Rec. Nat. Prod. 3: 1–22.