Three new [n-pentyl beta-carboline-1-propinate(1), 5-hydroxymethyl-9-methoxycanthin-6-one(2), and 1-hydroxy-9-methoxycanthin-6-one(3), and 19 known beta-carboline alkaloids were isolated from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia. The new structures were determined bt comprehensive analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectral data and by chemical transformation. These compounds were screened for in vitro cytotoxic and antimalarial activities, and 9-methoxycanthin-6-one (4) and canthin-6-one (5) demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against human cancer (A-549) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines.
