title: Induction of apoptosis in HuH-7 cancer cells by monoterpene and beta-carboline indole alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Tabernaemontana elegans.
abstract: Three known (1-3) and a novel (4) monoterpene indole alkaloids have been isolated from the methanol extract of leaves of Tabernaemontana elegans and their structures were elucidated by a series of spectroscopic experiments, involving NMR, MS, UV, and IR techniques. The isolated monoterpene indole alkaloids along with previously described beta-carbolines (5-7) from the same specimen were studied for their apoptosis induction activity in human hepatoma HuH-7 cells. Methodology for apoptosis induction studies included cell viability assays, nuclear morphology assessments, and general caspase-3-like activity assays. The monoterpene indole alkaloids, tabernaemontanine (1) and vobasine (3) showed the most promising apoptosis induction profile in HuH-7 cells.
authors.affiliation: iMed.UL, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. D. Forças Armadas, 1600-083 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tayyab A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulhovo
authors.forename: Cecília M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Maria José U
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids; D017209:Apoptosis; D002243:Carbolines / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D030014:Tabernaemontana / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002243:Carbolines; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C057239:vobasine