Isolation of a new cytotoxic colchinoid from Gloriosa superba roots.

A new colchinoid compound, identified as N -deacetyl- N -formylcornigerine ( 1 ), named glorigerine was isolated from the roots of Gloriosa superba , along with two known compounds. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR and HRMS experiments. Glorigerine ( 1 ) differed from cornigerine ( 6 ) by the presence of an N -formyl group instead of the N -acetyl group. Glorigerine ( 1 ) was found to have moderate cytotoxicity when tested against four human cancer cell lines.