Cytotoxicity and DNA topoisomerase inhibitory activity of constituents isolated from the fruits of Evodia officinalis.

Four alkaloids (1-4), three quinolone alkaloids (5-7), and three flavanoid glucosides (8-10) were isolated from the fruits of Evodia officinalis Dode, and their structures were determined from chemical and spectral data. Compounds, 3, 8, 9 and 10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Of these compounds, 1-3 and 5-7 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against cultured human colon carcinoma (HT-29), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and human hepatoblastoma (HepG-2). Compound 8 showed strong inhibitory effects on DNA topoisomerases I and II (70 and 96% inhibition at a concentration of 20 microM, respectively).