Glabraquinone A and B, new bisanthraquinones from Prismatomeris glabra (Korth.) Valeton

Abstract

Two new bisanthraquinones, glabraquinone A and B (1–2) were isolated from the root of Prismatomeris glabra (Korth.) Valeton. In addition to the new glabraquinones, six known anthraquinones, that is, 1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methylanthraquinone (3), 1,2-dimethoxy-7-methylanthraquinone (4), lucidin (5), nordamnacanthal (6), damnacanthal (7) and 2-carboxaldehyde-3-hydroxyanthraquinone (8)) and an aromatic compound, that is, catechol diethyl ether (9) were isolated and characterized in this study. Compounds 1, 4 and 9 showed mild activity, reducing N2A cell viability to 77%, 82% and 77%, respectively, in anti-neuroblastoma assay.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Prismatomeris glabra (Korth.) Valeton
• Rubiaceae
• glabraquinones
• bisanthraquinones
• anthraquinones
• anti-neuroblastoma

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Infra Laboratory Services and Chemistry Department, University of Malaya for the NMR and HRMS analysis. We would like to thank Madam Najmiyah Mohamad Alias, Delima Jelita Herbs Sdn. Bhd. for identification of plant material, and Mr Muhammad Ibrahim Asrar Abd Razak for assisting in the extraction process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by the University of Malaya Grant No. ST008-2020.