New oxoprotoberberine and aporphine alkaloids from the roots of amoora cucullata with their antiproliferative activites

Abstract

Two new oxoprotoberberine alkaloids, amocurine A and B (1 and 2), a new aporphine alkaloid, amocurine C (3), along with three known compounds (4-6) were isolated from the roots of Amoora cucullata. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines (KB, oral cavity; MCF-7, breast cancer; and NCI-H187, small cell lung cancer). Compounds 3 showed the most potent activities against KB and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values 3.5 and 4.2 µM, respectively.