Through our continuing search for anticancer agents from Madagascar rainforests as a part of International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG), we received two extracts which were active against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line and hence were selected for further fractionation. Six compounds were isolated from these extracts. The structure elucidation and characterization of these compounds was carried out using mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The bioassay-guided fractionation of Roupellina (Strophanthus) boivinii yielded three new and one known cardenolide glycosides. The structure of the known cardenolide glycoside was determined after comparison of NMR data to that found in literature for digitoxigenin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1â 4)-α-L-acofriopyranoside. All four compounds exhibited good antiproliferative activity on the A2780 bioassay. The fractionation of the extract of Grewia sp. led to the isolation of one new and one known triterpenoid. The known triterpenoid was identified as 7β-hydroxy-23-deoxojessic acid and its structure was confirmed by comparison of its 1D and 2D NMR data to that found in literature. / Master of Science

In our continuing search for biologically active natural products from Madagascar as part of an International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program, a total of four antiproliferative extracts were studied, leading to the isolation of twelve novel compounds with antiproliferative activity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer line, and one extract with antimalarial activities was studied, which led to the isolation of five new natural products with antimalarial activities against the Dd2 and HB3 malarial parasites. The plants and their metabolites are discussed in the following order: one new xanthone and two known guttiferones from Symphonia tanalensis Jum. & H. Perrier (Clusiaceae); four new diphenyl propanes and one new cyclohepta-dibenzofuran skeleton from Bussea sakalava (Fabaceae); four new cardiac glycosides from Leptadenia madagascariensis Decne. (Apocynaceae); two new and four known alkaloids from Ambavia gerrardii (Baill.) Le Thomas (Annonaceae); five new sesquiterpene lactones from Polycline proteiformis Humbert (Asteraceae). The structures of all compounds were determined by analysis of their mass spectrometric, 1D and 2D NMR, UV and IR spectroscopic and optical rotation data. Other than structure elucidation, this dissertation also involve bioactivity evaluation of all the isolates, synthesis of two interesting alkaloids, as well as a proposal for the possible biosynthetic pathway of the new cyclohepta-dibenzofuran skeleton. / Ph. D.

As part of an International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG), extracts of plants from Suriname and Madagascar were bioassayed for cytotoxicity and antimalarial activity. Six cytotoxic extracts and one potential antimalarial were selected for fractionation, and yielded a number of bioactive compounds which were characterized by spectroscopy methods. Craspidospermum verticillatum (Apocynaceae) yielded four known indole alkoids. Casimirella sp (Icacinaceae) gave three new and five known diterpenoids. Pentopetia androsaemifolia (Apocynaceae) afforded one new and three known cardenolide glycosides. Physalis angulata (Solanaceae) yielded seven known physalins. Roupellina boivinnii (Apocynaceae) yielded four known and three new cardenolide glycosides, and three known cucurbitacins were isolated from Octolepis aff. dioica (Thymelaeaceae). In addition to these structural studies, a synthetic approach to lucilactaene, a cell cycle inhibitor was developed. / Ph. D.