Bisindole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

• Tabernaemontana corymbosa is a plant source of bioactive alkaloids.
• Monoterpenoid alkaloids possess diverse pharmacological activities.
• Bisindole alkaloids are a significant class with therapeutic relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize novel alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa.
• To evaluate the cytotoxic potential of isolated compounds.

Main Methods:

• Phytochemical investigation of Tabernaemontana corymbosa aerial parts.
• Structure elucidation using spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS) and X-ray diffraction.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assays against selected cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

• Nine new alkaloids, taberyunines A-I, were isolated along with 32 known alkaloids.
• Taberyunines A-G were identified as Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma type bisindoles.
• Taberyunines H-I were identified as Vobasinyl-Ibogan type bisindoles.
• Taberyunine B exhibited significant cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines.

Conclusions:

• The study expands the chemical diversity of bioactive alkaloids from Tabernaemontana species.
• Taberyunine B is a promising candidate for further anticancer drug development.
• Structural diversity of bisindoles in T. corymbosa is highlighted.