A unique collection of 292 extracts
from 107 New Caledonian Euphorbiaceae
species sensu lato was profiled by LC-MS2 and the metabolite content organized by molecular networking. Based
on the assumption that taxon-specific molecules are more likely to
be structurally novel, taxonomic data were mapped on spectral networks
to detect genus-specific clusters. Using this approach, a group of
compounds unique to the genus Austrobuxus was highlighted.
The subsequent MS-guided purification of the fruit EtOAc extract of Austrobuxus carunculatus led to the isolation of 13 new
monolactone and “norditerpene” picrotoxanes (2–14), along with the known tutin (1). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by HRESIMS
and NMR spectroscopic data analysis, and the absolute configurations
of compounds 1, 3, 7, 11, 12, and 14 were determined by
single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The relative and absolute
configurations of compounds 4 and 5 were
ascertained by chemical transformation of compound 3.
The absolute configurations of other members of the series have been
proposed on the basis of biogenetic considerations and specific rotation
values of similar sign and magnitude. Compounds 1–14 were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against
HCT116 colon, U87-MG glioblastoma, and A549 lung human cancer cell
lines. Compounds bearing an acyl chain at C-2 (i.e., 2, 4, and 13) showed IC50 values
in the micromolar range for the three cell lines used.