Kopsileuconines A-D: Bisindole alkaloids with cytotoxic activity from Kopsia hainanensis

Abstract

Kopsileuconines A-D (1-4), four monoterpenoid bisindole alkaloids with unprecedented skeletons, along with their biosynthetically related precursors (5-8) were isolated from the roots of Kopsia hainanensis. Compound 1 possessed an undescribed C-6-C-5' dimerization pattern of aspidofractinine-type alkaloids. Compounds 2-4 were rhazinilam-kopsine (2) and rhazinilam-aspidofractinine type (3 and 4) bisindole alkaloids with undescribed skeletons, respectively. Their structures with absolute configurations were fully accomplished by extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum-chemical calculations, and X-ray crystallography. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1-4 was proposed. Compound 2 exhibited a significant inhibitory effect against human lung cancer cell lines PC9 (EGFR mutant), with an IC₅₀ value of 15.07 ± 1.19 μM.

Keywords: Apocynaceae; Cytotoxic activity; Kopsia hainanensis; Monoterpenoid bisindole alkaloids; Structure elucidation.