Alkaloids from the stem bark of Micromelum falcatum

Two new quinoldione alkaloids, methyl 2-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-3-yl)acetate (1) and 3-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(2-oxopropyl)quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (2), and two quinolinone alkaloids previously synthesized but first isolated as natural products, N-methylflindersine (3) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone (4), were isolated from the stem bark of Micromelum falcatum, together with the known N-methylswietenidine-B (5). Their structures were established mainly on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. All compounds were evaluated for toxicity towards brine shrimp larvae, and 3 showed strong toxicity with an LD(50) value of 1.39 microg/ml.