Antiproliferative Dimeric Aporphinoid Alkaloids from the Roots of Thalictrum cultratum

J Nat Prod. 2017 Nov 22;80(11):2893-2904. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00387. Epub 2017 Nov 13.

Abstract

Inspired by the intriguing structures and bioactivities of dimeric alkaloids, 11 new thalifaberine-type aporphine-benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, thalicultratines A-K, a tetrahydroprotoberberine-aporphine alkaloid, thalicultratine L, and five known ones were isolated from the roots of Thalictrum cultratum. Their structures were defined on the basis of NMR and HRESIMS data. The antiproliferative activities of compounds 1-17 were evaluated against human leukemia HL-60 and prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Most alkaloids showed potent cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells. Preliminary SARs are discussed. The most active new compound (3), with an IC50 value of 1.06 μM against HL-60 cells, was selected for mechanism of action studies. The results revealed that compound 3 induced apoptosis and arrested the HL-60 cell cycle at the S phase with the loss of mitochondria membrane potential. The nuclear morphological Hoechst 33258 staining assay was also carried out, and the results confirmed apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / isolation & purification*
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Aporphines / chemistry
  • Aporphines / isolation & purification*
  • Aporphines / pharmacology*
  • Berberine Alkaloids
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / isolation & purification*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thalictrum / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Aporphines
  • Berberine Alkaloids
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • thalicultratine C
  • berbine