Antiproliferative Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Isolated from the Bulbs of Sprekelia formosissima and Hymenocallis × festalis

Authors:
  • PFPeter Forgo
    Peter Forgo
  • JMJoseph Molnár
    Joseph Molnár
  • KWKrisztina Wolfard
    Krisztina Wolfard
  • AMAnnamária Molnár
    Annamária Molnár
  • TTTheresia Thalhammer
    Theresia Thalhammer
  • IMImre Máthé
    Imre Máthé
  • DSDerek Sharples
    Derek Sharples
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Seven alkaloids were isolated from Sprekelia formosissima, and five from Hymenocallis × festalis. Tazettine, lycorine, haemanthidine and haemanthamine were evaluated for antiproliferative and multidrug resistance (mdr) reversing activity on mouse lymphoma cells. Lycorine, haemanthidine and haemanthamine displayed pronounced cell growth inhibitory activities against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines, but did not significantly inhibit mdr-1 p-glycoprotein. Thus, the tested alkaloids are apparently not substrates for the mdr efflux pump. Assays for interactions with DNA and RNA revealed that the antiproliferative effects of lycorine and haemanthamine result from their complex formation with RNA.