Sesquiterpenes alkaloids cytotoxic activity

The sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids have antifeedant and insecticidal activ-ihes. Some alkaloids, such as triptonine B, hypoglaunine B, hyponine B and wilfortrine, have antivirus activity potential. Others, such as emarginatines A-B, E-G and emarginatine, have cytotoxic activity. Ebenifoline and cangorinine have immunosuppressive activity. 

In the course of these research programmes, cytotoxic quinones, polyester sesquiterpenes and pyridine-sesquiterpene alkaloids with antifeedant and/or insecticidal properties have been isolated from Latin American species, in particular those of the Maytenus genus which is extensively used by rural communities and tribes in the Andes and the Amazon basin. Recently some sesquiterpene alkaloids with immunosuppressive activity and sesquiterpenes with antitumoral activity have also been described [3]. 

Among other antineoplastic agents of plant origin, the narcissus alkaloid pseudolycorine (22) is active against Rauscher leukemia.136 Taxol, from Taxus brevifolia, is active against a number of experimental neoplastic systems its structure (23) was reported.The sesquiterpene lac-tonesl38,139 and bufadienolidesl are cytotoxic. 

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