Eight Indole Alkaloids from the Roots of Maerua siamensis and Their Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Effects

Maerua siamensis (Capparaceae) roots are used for treating pain and inflammation in traditional Thai medicine. Eight new indole alkaloids, named maeruanitriles A and B, maeroximes A–C, and maeruabisindoles A–C, were isolated from them. Spectroscopic methods and computational analysis were applied to determine the structure of the isolated compounds. Maeroximes A–C possesses an unusual O-methyloxime moiety. The bisindole alkaloid maeruabisindoles A and B possess a rare azete ring, whereas maeruabisindole C is the first indolo[3,2-b]carbazole derivative found in this plant family. Five compounds [maeruanitriles A and B, maeroxime C, maeruabisindoles B, and C] displayed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in the lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Maeruabisindole B was the most active inhibitor of NO production, with an IC(50) of 31.1 ± 1.8 μM compared to indomethacin (IC(50) = 150.0 ± 16.0 μM) as the positive control.