Inhibitory effects of isoquinoline-type alkaloids on leukemic cell growth and macromolecule biosynthesis

A number of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids of plants indigenous to Taiwan were isolated and purified and their chemical structures were determined. These compounds, namely benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines or their N-oxides, aporphines, oxoaporphines and 1-N, N-dimethylaminoethylphenanthrenes or their N-oxides, were studied for their potency in inhibiting precursor incorporation into DNA, RNA and protein. Inhibition of murine leukemic L1210 and human leukemic CCRF-CEM and HL-60 cell growth was also examined. Of the compounds evaluated for cell growth inhibition, (+-)-N-methylcoclaurine(3), (-)-norannuradhapurine HBr(19), oxoglaucine (23), dicentrine methine (27) and 1-(N-methyl-N-hydroxyaminoethyl)-3, 4-methylenedioxy-7-methoxyphenanthrene (28) showed an IC50 less than 10 microM.