Alkaloids from Melodinus yunnanensis

Ten monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, namely meloyine, 19S-methoxytubotaiwine N-4-oxide, 16,19-epoxy-Delta(14)-vincanol, 14 beta-hydroxymeloyunine, meloyunine, Delta(14)-vincamenine N-4-oxide, 16 beta,21 beta-epoxy-vincadine, 14 beta,15 beta-20S-quebrachamine, 3-oxo-voaphylline, 2 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-dihydrovoaphylline, and 32 known alkaloids were isolated from leaves and twigs of Melodious yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated based on 1- and 2-D NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic data. Meloyine I showed weak cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines: MCF-7 breast cancer, SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma, HL-60 myeloid leukemia, and A-549 lung cancer. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.