Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids from Anthocephalus cadamba Fruits Exhibiting Anticancer Activity in Human Lung Cancer Cell Line H1299

Two new monoterpene indole alkaloids, Vincosamide-N-oxide (1) and isodihydroamino cadambine (2) along with seven known alkaloids and triterpenoids vincosamide (3), vallesiachotamine (4), iso-vallesiachotamine (5), dihydrocadambine (6), cadambine (7), ursolic acid (8) and oleanolic acid (9) were isolated from the fruits of Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb) Miq. (Family: Rubiaceae). The chemical structures of the isolated molecules were determined using a combination of InfraRed (IR) and one dimensional (1D) and two dimensional (2D) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and High Resolution-Electronspray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (HR-ESIMS). The molecules were evaluated for their in-vitro antiproliferative activity against human lung cancer cell line H1299. Cytotoxic profile was studied in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line and induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Compounds 4 and 5 were found to exhibit potent anticancer activity with IC50 values of 4.24 and 3.79 mu M respectively. Both compounds demonstrated significant fragmentation in the chromatin within the nucleus cells as a result of apoptosis. In addition none of the purified compounds showed any toxic effect on normal cells.