[9-Nitro- and 9-amino-ellipticines and derivatives: synthesis and pharmacologic properties]

Preparation of 9-nitroellipticine starting from 1,4-dimethyl-6-nitrocarbazole and its reduction according to the Béchamp method followed by acetylation. The salts of 9-nitro-2-methyl- and 9-amino-2-methyl ellipticinium were tested for cytotoxic activity on different tumor strains for mutagenicity, for affinity for DNA and cytochrome P450 and for toxicity in the mouse. The results obtained were compared with those found under the same conditions with 9-hydroxyellipticine and its corresponding ellipticinium salt.