Indole Alkaloids from Ochrosia elliptica Plant Cell Suspension Cultures

Abstract

From cell suspension cultures of Ochrosia elliptica Labill. eight different monoterpenoid indole alkaloids were isolated and comprised three alkaloid classes viz. Corynanthe/Heteroyohimbine (tetrahydroalstonine, cathenamine, pleiocarpamine and two methoxylated heteroyohimbines), Strychnos (norfluorocurarine), Apparicine (apparicine and epchrosine). A ll these compounds except the Strychnos alkaloid are biogenetically closely related to the known alkaloids occurring in Ochrosia plants, although such alkaloids have not previously been detected in O. elliptica. Epchrosine has not before been described as a natural product.