New phlegmarane-type, cernuane-type, and quinolizidine alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

Two new phlegmarane-type alkaloids, cermizines A (1) and B (2), three new quinolizidine alkaloids, cermizine C (3) and senepodines G (4) and H (5), and a new C₁₆N₂ type alkaloid consisting of a quinolizidine and a piperidine ring, cermizine D (6), as well as two new cernuane-type alkaloids, cernuine N-oxide (7) and lycocernuine N-oxide (8), have been isolated together with cernuine (9) and lycocernuine (10) from the club moss Lycopodium cernuum and L. chinense. The relative stereochemistry of 1-4 and 6, and the absolute stereochemistry of 5, 7, and 8 were elucidated by combination of NOESY correlations, modified Mosher's method, chemical transformations, and computational methods. Cermizine D (6) might be a biosynthetic intermediate of cernuane-type alkaloids such as 7-10.     

Four novel gelsedine-type oxindole alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans

Four new gelsedine-type oxindole alkaloids (1-4) were isolated from the leaves and branches of Gelsemium elegans, together with 10 known alkaloids. The structures of the new alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic analyses and partial synthesis from known compounds. Gelsecrotonidine (1), 14-hydroxygelsecrotonidine (2), and 11-methoxygelsecrotonidine (3) possess an additional C₂ unit with an acetic acid residue compared to gelsenicine-related monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. 14-Hydroxygelsedilam (4) is an 18,19-nor-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloid.     

A divergent approach for the total syntheses of cernuane-type and quinolizidine-type Lycopodium alkaloids

The divergent total syntheses of cernuane-type and quinolizidine-type Lycopodium alkaloids are described. A common intermediate 5 for the two types of alkaloids was assembled practically from (+)-citronellal via organocatalytic α-amination, followed by the construction of oxazolidinone that was used for diastereoselective allylation. Key compound 5 was converted into cermizine C (3), and this in turn was converted into senepodine G (4) by the regioselective Polonovsky-Potier reaction. The total synthesis of representative cernuane-type alkaloids, (−)-cernuine (1) as well as (+)-cermizine D (2), was also accomplished from 5 by utilizing asymmetric transfer aminoallylation as a key step.     

Cyclopeptide alkaloids of Zizyphus oenoplia

The known alkaloids zizyphine-A (1) and -B (2), abyssinine-A (4) and -B (5), and the previously undescribed zizyphine-C (3), -D (6) and -E (7) have been isolated from the stem bark of Zizyphus oenoplia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods applied to the alkaloids and to some of their transformation products, and by chemical degradation reactions.     

A new group of isoquinoline alkaloids : The secoberbines

The new isoquinoline alkaloid (?)-peshawarine (1) has been isolated from Hypecoum parviflorum Kar. & Kir. (Papaveraceae). Its synthesis in the racemic form from coptisine (6b) involves a novel approach to cyclic hemiacetals in which the key step is the transformation of the aldehyde (±)-aobamine (10b) into the hemiacetal 12b using ethyl chloroformate. (±)-Corydalisol (11b) and (±)-canadaline (10a) have also been synthesized for the first time. The absolute configuration of (?)-1 was determined by chemical correlation with (+)-rhoeagenine methiodide (20). The chirality of the alkaloid (+)-canadaline (10a) has also been established by analogy to (+)-corydalisol (11b). (?)-Peshawarine (1), (+)-canadaline (10a), (+)-corydalisol (11b), and aobamine (10b), as well as hypecorine (22) and hypecorinine (23), are members of a new group of isoquinoline alkaloids, the secoberbines.     

New alkaloids sinomacutines A–E,and cephalonine-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside from rhizomes of Sinomenium acutum

Phytochemical investigation on the rhizomes of Sinomenium acutum led to the isolation of new alkaloids sinomacutines A–E (1–5), and cephalonine-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), along with known tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (7–9). Among them, sinomacutines A–C were new bistetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids with morphinane–proaporphine and morphinane–benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline types, and coupled with unique C–CH₂–N unit. Their structures with absolute configuration were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD spectra analysis. The new compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities, and sallisonine B (2) showed moderate ability to inhibit NO production of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, as well as sallisonine A (1) showed weak inhibitory effects against five cancer cell lines.     

Two unique C21-diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum carmichaelii

Two sulfonated diterpenoid alkaloids possessing different but related novel carbon skeletons, named aconidenusulfonine A (1) and 12,16-secoaconidenusulfonine A (2), respectively, were isolated as minor components from an aqueous extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii (“Fu Zi”). The structures of 1 and 2, representing the first two C₂₁-diterpenoid alkaloids from nature, were determined by analysis of various spectroscopic data and chemical transformation, of which 1 was further proved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Especially, 1 exhibited dose-depended analgesic activity consistent with the clinical function of Fu Zi.     

Daphniglaucins D-H, J, and K, new alkaloids from Daphniphyllum glaucescens

Five new fused-hexacyclic alkaloids, daphniglaucins D (1), E (2), F (3), G (4), and H (5), and two new yuzurimine-type alkaloids, daphniglaucins J (6) and K (7), have been isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum glaucescens, and the structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical means.     

Novel quinolinone alkaloids bearing a lignoid moiety and related constituents in the leaves of Melicope denhamii

Six novel quinolinone alkaloids bearing a phenylpropanoid or a coumarin moiety, named melicodenines C–H (1–6), two new cinnamyl alcohol derivatives, named melicodins A (7) and B (8), and a new coumarinolignan, named melicodin C (9), were isolated from the leaves of Melicope denhamii (Seem.) T. G. Hartley. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses including extensive 2D-NMR experiments. Compounds 1–5 and 9 possess a cyclobutane ring and are hypothetically produced by a [2+2] cycloaddition, whereas compound 6 is presumed to form through a Diels–Alder cycloaddition followed by the elimination of an acetone molecule. Ten quinolinone alkaloids (1–6, 10–13) and a coumarinolignan (9) were tested for anti-proliferative activity against DLD-1 human colon cancer cells. Melicodenine G (5) showed the most potent inhibitory activity, causing the induction of apoptosis with an IC₅₀ value of 9.4±0.3 μM.     

Amphimedonoic acid and psammaplysene E,novel brominated alkaloids from Amphimedon sp.

Examination of the CH₂Cl₂-MeOH (1:1) extract from the Madagascan sponge Amphimedon sp. highlighted two new brominated alkaloids, amphimedonoic acid (1) and psammaplysene E (2), along with the known 3,5-dibromo-4-methoxybenzoic acid (3). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS data.     

Croomine- and tuberostemonine-type alkaloids from roots of Stemona tuberosa and their antitussive activity

Three new croomine-type Stemona alkaloids, tuberocrooline (1), 10-hydroxycroomine (2), and dehydrocroomine (3), and four new tuberostemonine-type alkaloids, tuberostemoline (4), tridehydrotuberostemonine (5), 9α-bisdehydrotuberostemonine (6), and 9α-bisdehydrotuberostemonine A (7), along with ten known constituents, were isolated from the roots of Stemona tuberosa collected from Yunnan province. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra and other spectroscopic studies. The antitussive activity of the major alkaloids was tested using the citric acid-induced guinea pig cough model. Croomine (8) exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of coughing with an ID₅₀ value of 0.18 mmol/kg.     

Lycogladines A-H,fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloids from Lycopodium complanatum var. glaucum Ching

Five new fawcettimine-type alkaloids (1–5) and three new natural products (6–8), along with four known analogues, fawcettimine (9), fewcettidine (10), lycopoclavamine B (11), and lycopladine B (12), were isolated from the whole plant of Lycopodium complanatum var. glaucum Ching. The structures of lycogladines A-H (1–8) were determined based on HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 possesses a new ring system that is formed through the linkage of C-13-OC-2, which is rarely present in Lycopodium alkaloids (LAs). Compounds 1–8 were tested for their β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities.     

Isolation,structure elucidation,and antibacterial evaluation of the metabolites produced by the marine-sourced Streptomyces sp. ZZ820

New indole alkaloids streptoprenylindoles A–C (1–3) and diterpenoids 18-acetyl-cyclooctatin (8), 5,18-dedihydroxy-cyclooctatin (9), and 5-dehydroxy-cyclooctatin (10) were isolated from the culture of marine-derived Streptomyces sp. ZZ820, along with known 3-cyanomethyl-6-[3-methyl-2-butenyl]indole (4), N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylacetamide (5), 1-acetyl-β-carboline (6), indole-3-methylethanoate (7), cyclooctatin (11), and chromomycin A₃ (12). Their structures were elucidated by a combination of extensive spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculation, and the Mosher's method. Streptoprenylindoles A (1) and B (2) are enantiomers that were separated through the preparation of their Mosher esters. Three new diterpenoids (8–10) showed antibacterial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 24.11–55.12?μM, while chromomycin A₃ (12) showed potent antibacterial activities against MRSA (MIC: 0.59?μM) and E. coli (MIC 0.04?μM).     

New dimeric aporphine-benzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Thalictrum faberi

From Thalictrum faberi ten new aporphine-benzylisoquinoline dimers were isolated and the complete structures assigned by spectral methods. Of them, thalifaberine (1), thalifabine (2), thalifarapine (3), thalifabatine (4), thalifasine (5) and dehydrothalifaberine (6) ' constitute a new type of aporphine-benzylisoquinoline dimers. Huangshanine (7), faberonine (8), faberidine (9) and dehydrohuangshanine (10) are fetidine-type alkaloids.     

Complanadine B, obscurumines A and B, new alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

A new dimer of C₁₆N₂ type alkaloid, complanadine B (1), and two new C₁₆N type alkaloids, obscurumines A (2) and B (3), have been isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum and L. obscurum, respectively. The structures and stereochemistry of 1-3 were elucidated by combination of 2D NMR spectra and chemical transformation. Complanadine A (4) isolated together with 1 induced secretion of neurotrophic factors from human astrocytoma cells.     

Pyrroloquinoline derivatives from a Tongan specimen of the marine sponge Strongylodesma tongaensis

Pyrroloquinoline alkaloids are well known bioactive metabolites commonly found from latrunculiid sponges. Two new pyrroloquinoline alkaloids, 6-bromodamirone B (1) and makaluvamine W (2), were isolated from the Tongan sponge Strongylodesma tongaensis. Makaluvamine W (2) contains an oxazole moiety, which is rare in this large group of natural products, and is the first example of a pyrroloquinoline with nitrogen substitution at C-8. Both 1 and 2 lacked activity against a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60), supporting the premise that an intact iminoquinone moiety plays a key role in the cytotoxicity of this compound class. The chemotaxonomic impact of these makaluvamine-type compounds is also discussed.     

Three new dibromopyrrole alkaloids from the South China Sea sponge Agelas nemoechinata

Three new dibromopyrrole alkaloids, 9-N-methylcylindradine A (1), 1-N-methylugibohlin (2), nemoechine H (3), together with one known dibromopyrrole alkaloid N-methyldibromoisophakellin (4) were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Agelas nemoechinata. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and NMR, and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was further confirmed by comparison of optical rotation. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against K562 and L-02 with IC₅₀ values of 6.1 μM and 12.3 μM, respectively.     

Biphenyl quinolizidine lactone alkaloids from “sinicuichi” (Heimia salicifolia)

Six new biphenyl quinolizidine lactone alkaloids: 14α-hydroxydecodine (1), 14β-hydroxydecodine (2), 4″-O-demethylheimidine (3), 4″-O-demethyl-9β-hydroxyvertine (4), 4″-O-demethylvertine N-oxide (5), and 4″-O-demethyl-9β-hydroxyvertine N-oxide (6) were isolated from so-called “sinicuichi” (origin: Heimia salicifolia) together with 18 known alkaloids. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses and chemical conversions.     

Polyketide origin of 3-alkylpyridines in the marine mollusc Haminoea orbignyana

The paper reports the biosynthesis of the main alkylpyridine alkaloids, haminol-1 (1) and -2 (2), in the Mediterranean mollusc Haminoea orbignyana. Experiments were carried out by in vivo incorporation of [1,2- ¹³C₂ acetate]. Data give full account for a polyketide origin of haminols in the Mediterranean molluscs, showing the biosynthesis of these 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids by elongation with acetate of a starter unit of nicotinic acid.