Phytochemical study of endemic Costa Rican Annonaceae species Annona pittieri and Cymbopetalum costaricense

Abstract

Phytochemical profile of the Central American rainforest endemic Annonaceae species, Annona pittieri and Cymbonopetallum costaricense, were studied in search of novel bioactive compounds. The acetogenin squamocin (1) isolated from A. pittieri showed cytotoxic activity against human acute lymphocytic leukaemia with low activity against healthy blood cells. In addition, other eight compounds were isolated from A. pittieri, including a novel 2-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, 4-methoxybenzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione (2). Furthermore, from C. costaricense three compounds were isolated including a novel 1-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, 6-hydroxy-9-methoxy-cleistopholine (3)