8-O-Azeloyl-14-benzoylaconine: a new alkaloid from the roots of Aconitum karacolicum Rapcs and its antiproliferative activities.

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 (1)H, (13)C, 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 IC(50) of about 10-20 microM, which warrants further investigation on its possible interest in cancer chemotherapy.