Novel alkaloids and a ceramide from Brunsvigia natalensis (Amaryllidaceae) and their anti-neoplastic activity

Two new 5,10b-ethanophenanthridine bridge alkaloids, 3-O-methyl–epi–vittatine, 1, and crouchinine, 2, (2R)-7-hydroxyflavan, 3, and a novel ceramide, brunsceramide, were isolated from the bulbs of Brunsvigia natalensis. (2R)-7-Hydroxyflavan showed total growth inhibition in the 55–60 ppm range against the melanoma (UACC62), breast (MCF7) and renal (TK10) cancer cell lines. 3-O-Methyl–epi–vittatine, 1, and bruns-ceramide, 4, were inactive against the cell lines tested