Hainanerectamines A–C,Alkaloids from the Hainan Sponge Hyrtios erecta

Two new indole alkaloids, hainanerectamines A (1) and B (2), and one new β-carboline alkaloids, hainanerectamines C (4), along with five known related alkaloids (3, 5–8), have been isolated from the Hainan marine sponge Hyrtios erecta. The structures of new compounds 1, 2 and 4 were determined by detailed analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of related model compounds. Compounds 2–4 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against Aurora A, a member of serine/threonine kinase family involving in the regulation of cell division and a new target in cancer treatment, with IC₅₀ values of 24.5, 13.6, and 18.6 μg/mL, respectively.     

Total Synthesis and Biological Activity of Marine Alkaloid Eudistomins Y1–Y7 and Their Analogues

Eudistomin Y class compounds are a series of β-carbolines which was originally isolated from a marine turnicate or ascidian near the South Korea Sea. These compounds contain bromo-substituted groups, which is one of the typical characters of marine natural products. We report herein the chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of seven new β-carboline-based metabolites, Eudistomins Y₁–Y₇, and their hydroxyl-methylated phenyl derivatives. Using bromo-substituted tryptamines and bromo-substituted phenylglyoxals as the key intermediates, Eudistomins Y₁–Y₇ and their derivatives were synthesized via the acid-catalyzed Pictet-Spengler reaction and fully characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. Biological studies revealed that all of the compounds showed moderate growth inhibitory activity against breast carcinoma cell line MDA-231 with IC₅₀ of 15–63 μM and the inhibitory activities of hydroxyl-methylated phenyl products were higher than that of the corresponding natural products Eudistomins Y₁–Y₇.     

3-甲基-β-咔啉衍生物的合成及其抑菌活性

以吲哚甲醛和硝基乙烷为起始原料,经Henry、Pictet-Spengler等反应合成了12个9-取代-3-甲基-β-咔啉衍生物,其中10个未见文献报道,其结构均通过核磁共振和质谱确证。毒力测定结果表明:化合物Z-5(3-甲基-9-异丙基-β-咔啉)抑制玉米弯孢霉叶斑病菌Curvularia lunata和番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea孢子萌发的EC50值分别为4.23和6.73 μg/mL;相应地, Z-7(3-甲基-9-炔丙基-β-咔啉)的EC50值分别为11.16和7.51 μg/mL。     

Increased Level of Tetrahydro-β-Carboline Derivatives in Short-Term Fermented Garlic

In our previous study [1], we found that relatively short-term spontaneous fermentation (40 days at 60–70°C, 85–95% relative humidity) potentiates anti-oxidative properties of garlic, in which scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide was included. Since tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives (THβCs) that possess hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity have recently been identified in aged garlic extract, THβCs were quantitatively analyzed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). (1R, 3S)-1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCC) and (1S, 3S)-MTCC were found in the fermented garlic extract whereas only trace levels of MTCCs were detected in the row garlic extract. Therefore, it is suggested that relatively short-term fermentation potentiates scavenging activity of garlic against hydrogen peroxide by forming THβCs, especially MTCCs.     

Three novel β-carboline alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans

Three novel β-carboline alkaloids characterized with a unique degraded monoterpenoid moiety, gelebolines A-C (1-3), together with 11 known alkaloids of different types, were isolated from the roots of Gelsemium elegans. The structures of new alkaloids were established on the basis of analysis of spectroscopic data. It is the first example for report of β-carboline from genus Gelsemium (Loganiaceae).