New alkaloids from Stemona tuberosa and structural revision of tuberostemonols P and R.

Three Stemona alkaloids named stemotuberines A–C (1 – 3) with unique C 17 N frameworks, presumably formed by elimination of the C-11–C-15 lactone ring of the stichoneurine skeleton, were isolated from the roots of Stemona tuberosa. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and computational methods. Compounds 2 and 3 showed inhibition (IC 50 values of 37.1 and 23.2 μM, respectively) against LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, concern was expressed about the reported plant origin (S. sessilifolia) of the recently described alkaloids tuberostemonols O–R (4–7), which should be S. tuberosa. NMR calculations indicated structural misassignment of these compounds except for 6. Isolation of tuberostemonol P (5) from our material of S. tuberosa allowed for a close examination of the spectroscopic data leading to the revised structure 5a. Tuberostemonol R (7) was found to have identical 1H and 13C NMR data to the well-known alkaloid croomine, and therefore its structure including relative stereochemistry must be revised as 7a. [Display omitted] • Three previously undescribed Stemona alkaloids were isolated from Stemona tuberosa. • Compounds 1 – 3 possess unprecedented C 17 N skeletons. • Nitric oxide inhibitory activities of isolated compounds were evaluated. • Putative structures of tuberostemonols P and R were revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]