Monocarpinensis A–B: two novel cycloartane triterpenoids isolated from Monocarpia kalimantanensis and their medicinal evaluation

Abstract

Monocarpia kalimantanensis (Annonaceae) is often used by indigenous communities in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, but information on its chemical composition and biological activity remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to isolate two new monocarpin derivatives from n-hexane extracts of M. kalimantanensis bark, namely monocarpinensis A (1) and monocarpinensis B (2), as well as one known cycloartane-type triterpenoid (3). The structures of these new compounds were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRTOF-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and ECD, supported by TD-DFT calculations. All isolated compounds were tested for ex vivo antiplasmodial activity, and compounds 1–3 were evaluated against MCF-7 and normal CV-1 cell lines using PrestoBlue method. The cytotoxicity assay showed that monocarpinensis A (1) had the lowest IC₅₀ values of 126.5 and 520.2 µM against MCF-7 and CV-1 cell lines, respectively. However, compounds 1–3 did not show significant antiplasmodial activity. The current study is the first to report monocarpin derivatives from M. kalimantanensis and their evaluations as potential anticancer and antiplasmodial candidates.

Graphical abstract

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