Michellamines A₆ and A₇, and further mono- and dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from a Congolese: Ancistrocladus liana and their antiausterity activities against pancreatic cancer cells

Michellamines A₆ (1) and A₇ (2) are the first dimers of 5,8′-coupled naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids with cis-configured stereocenters in both tetrahydroisoquinoline subunits. They were isolated from the leaves of a recently discovered, yet unidentified Congolese Ancistrocladus liana that shares some morphological characteristics with Ancistrocladus likoko. Two further new dimeric analogs, michellamines B₄ (3) and B₅ (4), were obtained, along with two previously likewise unknown monomers, ancistrobonsolines A₁ (5) and A₂ (6), which, besides one single known other example, are the only naphthyldihydroisoquinolines with an M-configured biaryl axis and R-configuration at C-3. Moreover, five compounds earlier reported from other Ancistrocladus species were identified, ancistroealaine C (7), korupensamines A (8a) and B (8b), and michellamines A₂ (9) and E (10). Their complete structural elucidation succeeded due to the fruitful interplay of spectroscopic, chemical, and chiroptical methods. Chemotaxonomically, the stereostructures of the metabolites clearly delineate this Congolese Ancistrocladus liana from all known related species, showing that it might be a new taxon. Ancistrobonsolines A₁ (5) and A₂ (6) exhibited strong preferential cytotoxicities against human PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells under nutrient-deprived conditions, without displaying toxicity in normal, nutrient-rich medium. Against cervical HeLa cancer cells, the dimeric alkaloids michellamines A₆ (1) and E (10) displayed the highest cytotoxic activities, comparable to that of the standard agent, 5-fluorouracil. Furthermore, ancistrobonsolines A₁ (5) and A₂ (6) showed weak-to-moderate antiprotozoal activities.