Xiang-Hai Cai

A cage-monoterpene indole alkaloid from Alstonia scholaris.

An unprecedented cage-like alkaloid, scholarisine A was isolated from the leaves of Alstonia scholaris and its structure determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, UV, and high-resolution mass spectroscopic data. This alkaloid might be derived from picrinine via oxygenation, rearrangement, and lactonization.

Alkaloids from Melodinus yunnanensis

Ten monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, namely meloyine, 19S-methoxytubotaiwine N₄-oxide, 16,19-epoxy-Δ¹⁴-vincanol, 14β-hydroxymeloyunine, meloyunine, Δ¹⁴-vincamenine N₄-oxide, 16β,21β-epoxy-vincadine, 14β,15β-20S-quebrachamine, 3-oxo-voaphylline, 2α,7α-dihydroxy-dihydrovoaphylline, and 32 known alkaloids were isolated from leaves and twigs of Melodinus yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated based on 1- and 2-D NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic data. Meloyine I showed weak cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines: MCF-7 breast cancer, SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma, HL-60 myeloid leukemia, and A-549 lung cancer.

A New Type of Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Precursor from Alstonia rostrata

Currently, all monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) have been derived from strictosidine, which originates from the condensation of tryptophan with secologanin in a 1:1 ratio. However, our phytochemical research on Alstonia rostrata revealed a potential new precursor for these compounds. We isolated the alstrostines A and B, and it was determined that they were derived from tryptophan and secologanin in a 1:2 ratio, which supported the presence of a new type of MIA precursor.

Cytotoxic indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana officinalis.

Continued interest in cytotoxic alkaloids resulted in the isolation of 37 alkaloids including 29 known monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from the aerial parts of Tabernaemontana officinalis. Of the remaining 8 alkaloids, six were bisindole alkaloids named taberdivarines A-F (1-6) and the two were monomers named taberdivarines G and H (7-8). Alkaloids 1 and 2 are voaphylline-vobasinyl type bisindole alkaloids, a structural type previously unknown, while 3-6 exhibited cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines HeLa, MCF-7, and SW480 with IC50 values ranging from 1.42 to 11.35 μM.

Mimicking Livor Mortis: a Well-Known but Unsubstantiated Color Profile in Sapromyiophily

By emitting strong scents resembling rotting organic materials suitable for oviposition and/or foraging of flies, sapromyiophilous flowers mimic the substrates that attract flies as pollinators. It has been suggested that the wide range of volatile organic compounds emitted by this deceptive pollination system reflects the trophic preferences of flies to different types of substrate, including herbivore and carnivore feces, carrion, and fruiting bodies of fungi. Previous studies suggest that floral scents play a particularly important role in sapromyiophily. However, few studies on the relative importance of floral color or synergy between visual and olfactory cues in sapromyiophily have been substantiated. In this study, we analyzed fetid floral odor, floral pigment composition, and reflectance of an Amorphophallus konjac C. Koch inflorescence, and we conducted bioassays with different visual and/or olfactory cues to explore an unsubstantiated color profile in sapromyiophily: mimicking livor mortis. Our analysis showed A. konjac can emit oligosulphide-dominated volatile blends similar to those emitted by carrion. Necrophagous flies cannot discriminate between the color of an inflorescence, livor mortis, and floral pigments. We concluded that mimicking livor mortis may represent a common tactic of pollinator attraction in “carrion flower” systems within angiosperms.

Dimeric Erythrina Alkaloids from the Flower of Erythrina variegata

Unprecedented dimeric Erythrina alkaloids, spirocyclic (6/5/6/6) erythrivarine A (1) and spiro-fused (6/5/7/6) rings erythrivarine B (2), were isolated from the cultivated plant, E. variegata. The structures were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR, UV, and mass spectroscopic data and X-ray crystal diffraction. The biogenetic relationship of 1 and 2 is proposed.

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Alstonia rostrata

Four new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, alstrostines C-F together with thirteen known alkaloids were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Alstonia rostrata. All structures of new compounds were elucidated based on NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic data. Alstrostines C-E might originate from keto-enol tautomerism of preakummicine during biogenetic pathway of akummicine.

New dimeric and trimeric Erythrina alkaloids from Erythrina variegata

HPLC-guided chromatography isolation led to five new polymeric Erythrina alkaloids, erythrivarines C–G (1–5), from the flowers of Erythrina variegata. Their structures were elucidated by intensive spectroscopic analyses. Dimeric alkaloids 1 and 2 consisted of two erythrinine units via an acetyl glucose, whereas trimers 3–5 were coupled through direct polymerization. Alkaloids 1 and 2 showed excellent insecticidal activities against aphid Rhodobium porosum.

Alkaloids from the flower of Erythrina arborescens

Phytochemical investigations on the flower of Erythrina arborescens resulted in the isolation of eight new Erythrina alkaloid, erytharborines A–H (1–8), together with 17 known alkaloids. Erytharborines A/B (1–2) and C (3) possessed an 2H-imidazole ring and a unique oxime moiety, respectively. The structures were elucidated on the basis of UV, IR, mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic data.

Morphological and chemical variation of Stemona tuberosa from southern China - Evidence for heterogeneity of this medicinal plant species

The occurrence of bioactive alkaloids and tocopherols was studied in 15 different provenances of Stemona tuberosa Lour. collected in southern China, to examine chemical variation of individuals that show notable differences in flower characteristics. Morphological variations stimulated examination of chemical characteristics of these individuals. Methanolic root extracts of 15 individuals of S.xa0tuberosa were comparatively assessed with HPLC-UV-DAD/ELSD. Five of seven compounds were co-chromatographically identified. Two compounds were isolated and their structure elucidated using NMR and MS. Amounts of alkaloids and tocopherols were determined using HPLC-UV-DAD/ELSD with the external standard method. Five alkaloids, tuberostemonine (1), tuberostemonine A (2), neotuberostemonine (3), tuberostemonine N (4), stemoninine (5) and two 3,4-dehydrotocopherol derivatives were identified. Within S.xa0tuberosa alkaloid accumulation tends either towards tuberostemonine (1) or stemoninine (5). All individuals show a notable co-occurrence of compounds 1 or 5 and 3,4-dehydro-δ-tocopherol (6). These results coincide with differences in flower morphology of S.xa0tuberosa. Stemona tuberosa, as defined in the Flora of China, shows a remarkable variation in flower morphology and additionally in the accumulation of alkaloids. The obtained data show the need for future species delimitation to either species or subspecies level.