Indole Alkaloids from Cell Suspension Cultures of Catharanthus roseus and C. ovalis

Eighteen different indole alkaloids belonging to the major types Corynanthe, Strychnos, Aspidosperma and Iboga were isolated and identified from cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus and Catharanthus ovalis. Twelve of the alkaloids have not previously been reported to be produced by cultured C. roseus or C. ovalis cells. The general alkaloid content of the C. roseus cell cultures remarkably exceeds that of the strains so far described. The formation of alkaloids in cell cultures of C. ovalis 1 is reported here for the first time. Key Word Index Catharanthus roseus - Catharanthus ovalis - Apocynaceae - Cell Suspension Culture - Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids - Corynanthe-, Strychnos-, Aspidosperma-, Iboga-types.