8-O-Azeloyl-14-benzoylaconine: A new alkaloid from the roots of Aconitum karacolicum Rapcs and its antiproliferative activities Original Research Article

A new alkaloid of Aconitum karacolicum Rapcs, from the Ranunculaceae family, collected in Kirghizstan, was isolated from the roots of this plant, using a purification scheme based upon its in vitro antiproliferative properties against three human tumour cell lines in culture. Structural identification was performed using high resolution MS–MS mass spectrometry and 1H, 13C, 2D NOESY NMR spectroscopy analysis. This compound consists of a 14-benzoylaconine moiety substituted on C-8 by an azeloyl chain. It presents in vitro cytotoxicity with an IC50 of about 10–20 μM, which warrants further investigation on its possible interest in cancer chemotherapy.