Gelsedine-type oxindole alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans and the evaluation of their cytotoxic activity

Phytochemical investigation on the 70% EtOH extract of the leaves and branches of Gelsemium elegans resulted into the isolation of five new gelsedine-type oxindole alkaloids, gelseleganins A-E (1-5). The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated alkaloids were tested in vitro for cytotoxic potential against seven tumor cell lines. As a result, alkaloids 3 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against all the tested tumor cell lines with IC50 values < 10 μM.

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