New limonoids from Coptidis Rhizoma–Euodiae Fructus couple

Abstract

A pair of inseparable new limonoids, named euodirutaecins A (1a) and B (1b), were isolated from the Coptidis Rhizoma–Euodiae Fructus couple, together with two new single compounds evodirutaenin A (2) and shihulimonin A1 (5), and the known limonoids rutaevin (3), limonin (4), 12α-hydroxyrutaevin (6), and alkaloids rutaecarpine and evodiamine. Structures of these compounds were identified by spectral analyses and quantum chemical computational method, and the six limonoids were also evaluated for cytotoxicities against NCI-N87 and Caco-2 cell lines.

Keywords::

• Coptidis Rhizoma
• Euodiae Fructus
• euodirutaecin A
• euodirutaecin B
• evodirutaenin A
• shihulimonin A1
• cytotoxicity

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81173508) and the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2011BAI07B08).