Diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium sherriffii

Area of Science:

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• The Ranunculaceae family, particularly the Delphinium genus, is a rich source of bioactive alkaloids.
• Delphinium sherriffii Munz is a plant species with potential for novel compound discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize chemical constituents from Delphinium sherriffii.
• To evaluate the cytotoxic activity of isolated compounds against Sf9 insect cells.

Main Methods:

• Phytochemical investigation involving isolation and purification techniques.
• Structure elucidation using Infrared (IR), High-Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
• Cytotoxicity assays using Sf9 cells to determine inhibitory concentrations (IC50).

Main Results:

• Three new diterpenoid alkaloids (compounds 1-3) and seventeen known compounds (compounds 4-20) were successfully isolated.
• The structures of all isolated compounds were confirmed through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis.
• Compound 5 demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against Sf9 cells with an IC50 value of 8.97 μM.

Conclusions:

• The study expands the knowledge of diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium species.
• Compound 5 exhibits notable cytotoxic activity, suggesting its potential as a lead compound for further pharmacological investigation.