[New beta-carboline alkaloids contained in Psammosilene tunicoides].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Psammosilene tunicoides. METHOD: The two chemical constituents were separated by various chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. RESULT: Two beta-carboline alkaloids were separated from normal butanol fraction of P. tunicoides, and identified as 1-acetyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (1) and 1-acetyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-4-hydroxyl-beta-carboline (2). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is separated from this plant as natural products for the first time, and compound 2 was a new compound.