Two new cytotoxic furoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa

Abstract

Two new cytotoxic furoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa; one from the total alkaloidal fraction (acid/base shake-out method) of the CHCl₃ extract and identified as 7,8-dihydroxy-4-hydrofuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-A. The other new alkaloid isolated from the pet. ether extract and identified as 4-hydro-7-hydroxy-8-prenyloxyfuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-B, together with a known alkaloid; aegeline and a known phenolic acid; ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid. The structures of all the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI/MS. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated in vitro against HepG-2, PC3, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The obtained results revealed promising activity with structure-based relationship which is discussed briefly.

Keywords:

• Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa
• rutaceae
• furoquinoline alkaloids
• cytotoxicity
• structure–activity relationship studies

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, for providing the facilities for instrumental analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.