4-Quinolone alkaloids from Melochia odorata.

The methanol extract of Melochia odorata yielded three 4-quinolone alkaloids including waltherione A (1) and two new alkaloids, waltherione C (2) and waltherione D (3). Waltheriones A and C showed significant activities in an in vitro anti-HIV cytoprotection assay at concentrations of 56.2 and 0.84 mu M and inhibition of HIV P24 formation of more than 50% at 1.7 and 0.95 mu M, respectively. The structures of the alkaloids were established by spectroscopic data interpretation.