Chemical Compounds of Gelsemium elegans and their Anti-Cancer Activity

Abstract

Thirty-three compounds were isolated from Gelsemium elegans. Among them, compound 16 was a new natural product and its absolute configuration was elucidated by spectral analysis and an esterification reaction. Compounds 14, 17, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 32 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1–23 were screened for their in vitro inhibitory activities against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hepa 1-6. The results showed 1, 13, 14 and the total alkaloids had different inhibitory activities against the cancer cell lines previously mentioned.