Human breast cancer cell inhibitory constituents from Tetradium ruticarpum

Three alkaloids (named rutaecarpine (1), evodiamine (2), schinifoline (3) and one phenylpropanoid, integrifoliodiol (4)) have been isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fruits of Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) T. G. Hartley collected in Lang Son province. Their structures have been identified by using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies. All four compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell line (MCF\TAMR). The results showed that rutaecarpine (1) inhibited the growth of MCF7 and MCF\TAMR with its IC50 values of 41.2 and 64.6 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed moderate activity toward MCF-7 cell line.