An antimitotic and cytotoxic chalcone from Fissistigma lanuginosum

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethyl acetate extract of Fissistigma lanuginosum led to the isolation of the known chalcone pedicin [1], which inhibited tubulin assembly into microtubules (IC50 value of 300 microM). From the same EtOAc fraction, two new condensed chalcones, fissistin [2] and isofissistin [3], which showed cytotoxicity against KB cells, were also obtained, together with the inactive dihydropedicin [4] and 6,7-dimethoxy-5,8-dihydroxyflavone [5]. In addition, the aminoquinones 6, 8, and 9 were isolated from the alkaloid extract. These compounds were artifacts, prepared by treatment of 1, 4, and 2, respectively, with NH4OH. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral methods, especially 2D nmr.