Cytotoxic aporphine alkaloids from Ocotea acutifolia.

Two new aporphinoid alkaloids, (+)-6 S-ocoteine N-oxide and (+)-norocoxylonine, were isolated from the leaves and trunk bark of OCOTEA ACUTIFOLIA (Lauraceae) along with thirteen aporphine analogues, one morphinan alkaloid, and one flavonoid. The aporphine alkaloids (+)-thalicsimidine and (+)-neolitsine are reported for the first time for the genus OCOTEA. The structures of all compounds were established on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques, optical rotation and/or mass spectrometry data. The cytotoxic potential of eight of the aporphine alkaloids against four human cancer cell lines (Hep-2, MCF-7, B16-F10 and 786-0) was also evaluated.