Two new amide alkaloids with anti-leukaemia activities from Aconitum taipeicum

Two new amide alkaloids, named 3-isopropyl-tetrahydropyrrolo 1,2-a] pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (1) and 1-acetyl-2,3,6-triisopropyl-tetrahydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (2), were isolated from the roots of Aconitum taipeicum. Their chemical structures were characterized on the basis of MS, 1D- and 2D NMR. The anti-leukaemia activities of the compounds were also tested. The results indicated that the compounds exhibited more significant cell growth inhibitory activities against HL-60 cells than adriamycin, with the IC₅₀ of 1.1 ± 0.03 μg/mL and 1.6 ± 0.07 μg/mL respectively. In addition, two compounds showed anti-tumor activities against K562 cells as well.