An indolocarbazole alkaloid, ZHD-0501 (1), and its 7 stereoisomers (2-8) were totally synthesized from d/l-glucose and 2,3-dibromomaleimide in 22 step reactions, and the absolute configuration of ZHD-0501 was confirmed for the first time. Compounds 1-8 showed significant inhibition against PKC α/β and the proliferation of A549, HeLa, K562 and BEL-7402 tumor cell lines. © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry.