25 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids belonging to different skeletal types were
evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against one murine non-tumoral
cell line (LMTK) and two human tumoral cell lines (Molt4 and HepG2) a
ccording to established protocols. Significant differences of activity
related with the type of skeleton of the tested alkaloids could be ob
served. Pretazettine (22) was among the most active compound among the
25 tested alkaloids on the Molt4 lymphoid cells, but was inactive aga
inst HepG2 hepatoma. On the other hand, lycorenine (11) was found to b
e the most cytotoxic compound against HepG2 hepatoma, even though it a
ppears to be inactive against Molt4 cells. Almost all of the tested al
kaloids showed cytotoxic activity against fibroblastic LMTK cells. Onl
y mesembrenone (25) showed some specificity against Molt4 cells in com
parision to LMTK cells.