Antitumour activity on extrinsic apoptotic targets of the triterpenoid maslinic acid in p53-deficient Caco-2 adenocarcinoma cells

We report that a novel triterpenoid, (2a,3b)-2,3-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (maslinic acid), isolated from olive pomace from Olea europaea, triggers primarily the extrinsic and later the intrinsic apoptotic pathways in Caco-2 human colon-cancer cells. Apoptosis induced by maslinic acid was confirmed by FACS analysis using annexine-V FICT staining. This induction of apoptosis was correlated with the early activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, the activation of caspase-8 was also correlated with higher levels of Bid cleavage and decreased Bcl-2, but with no change in Bax expression. Maslinic acid also induced a sustained activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Incubation with maslinic acid also resulted in the later activation of caspase-9, which, together with the lack of any Bax activation, suggests that the mitochondrial pathway is not required for apoptosis induced by maslinic acid in this cell line. In this study we found that the mechanism of apoptotic activation in p53-deficient Caco-2 cells differs significantly from that found in HT-29 cells. Natural agents able to activate both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways by avoiding the mitochondrial resistance mechanisms may be useful for treatment against colon cancer regardless of its aetiology.     

Cytotoxic and Apoptosis‐Inducing Activities,and Anti‐Tumor‐Promoting Effects of Cyanogenated and Oxygenated Triterpenes

Two of each semisynthetic lanostane‐ and cycloartane‐type triterpenes with a cyano‐enone functionality, i.e., 13 and 18 , and 23 and 28 , respectively, sixteen of their synthetic intermediates, 9 – 12, 14 – 17, 19 – 22 , and 24 – 27 , along with seven semisynthetic oxygenated triterpene acetates, 29 – 35 , and eight natural hydroxy triterpenes, 1 – 8 , were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against leukemia (HL60), lung (A549), stomach (AZ521), and breast (SK‐BR‐3) cancer cell lines. One natural triterpene, 8 , and ten semisynthetic triterpenes, 9, 13, 15, 18, 23, 25, 28, 29, 32 , and 33 , exhibited potent cytotoxicities against one or more cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 1.4–9.9 μM . Two lanostane‐type triterpenes with a cyano‐enone functionality, 3‐oxolanosta‐1,8,24‐triene‐2‐carbonitrile ( 13 ) and 3‐oxolanosta‐1,8‐diene‐2‐carbonitrile ( 18 ), induced apoptosis in HL60 cells, as observed by membrane phospholipid exposure in flow cytometry. Western blot analysis showed that 13 and 18 significantly reduced procaspases‐3, ‐8, and ‐9, and increased cleaved caspases‐3, ‐8, and ‐9. These findings indicated that compounds 13 and 18 induced apoptosis in HL60 cells via both the mitochondrial and the death receptor‐mediated pathways. In addition, upon evaluation of the inhibitory effects on Epstein? Barr virus early antigen (EBV‐EA) activation induced with 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) in Raji cells, seven natural triterpenes, 1 – 6 and 8 , and ten semisynthetic triterpenes, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 24, 25, 29 , and 30 , exhibited inhibitory effects which were higher than that of β‐carotene, a vitamin A precursor studied widely in cancer‐chemoprevention animal models.     

Synthesis,anti-inflammatory activity and modeling studies of cycloartane-type terpenes derivatives isolated from Parthenium argentatum

The 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced edema model in mice determined the anti-inflammatory activities in vivo of argentatins A, B and D, the main cycloartenol-type triterpenes present in Parthenium argentatum. Our results showed that argentatin B (ED₅₀ = 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ mmol/ear) and argentatin A (ED₅₀ = 2.8 × 10⁻⁴ mmol/ear) were more potent anti-inflammatory agents than indomethacin (ED₅₀ = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ mmol/ear), the reference drug. Based on these findings, we decided to evaluate 13 derivatives of argentatins A and B. All the derivatives showed anti-inflammatory activity in the TPA-induced edema model in mice. The most active compound was 25-nor-cycloart-3, 16-dione-17-en-24-oic acid, obtained from argentatin A (ED₅₀ = 1.4 × 10⁻⁴ mmol/ear). Argentatin B was assayed as inhibitor of COX-2 activity one of the key enzymes involved in the TPA assay. The results showed that argentatin B at 15 μM doses inhibited 77% COX-2 activity. Docking studies suggest that argentatin B interacts with Arg 120, a key residue for COX-2 activity.     

Chemical constituents from Eucalyptus citriodora Hook leaves and their glucose transporter 4 translocation activities

Bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc fraction from the leaves of a Chinese medicinal herb, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, resulted in the isolation of a new compound rhodomyrtosone E (1), along with 12 known compounds (2–13). The structure of the new compound was established by 1D and 2D NMR, MS data and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Betulinic acid (2) and corosolic acid (5) increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) translocation by 2.38 and 1.78-fold, respectively.     

Evaluation of chemical constituents and antinociceptive properties of Myricaria elegans Royle

The phytochemical screening of Myricaria elegans Royle (Tamaricaceae) gave strongly positive results for terpenes. A total of six triterpenes were isolated from the CHCl₃ fraction, including eleganene‐A, eleganene‐B, corsolic acid, betulin, ursolic acid, and erythrodiol. The in vivo antinociceptive investigation of the plant showed a significant increase in the tail‐flick latency, accompanied by mild sedation and severe ataxia. Considering the known activities of some of the compounds isolated from the plant, it may be hypothesized that the increase in the tail‐flick latency may be the combined effect of analgesia, ataxia, and sedation, rather than analgesia alone. These findings suggest M. elegans to be a potential source for activity‐guided isolation of important natural compounds with a variety of effects.     

Cytotoxic sulfated triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Pseudocolochirus violaceus

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active BuOH extract of the sea cucumber Pseudocolochirus violaceus resulted in the isolation of three new sulfated triterpene glycosides, i.e., violaceusides I, II, and III (1-3, resp.), as active compounds causing morphological abnormality of Pyricularia oryzae mycelia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR and MS experiments, as well as chemical evidence. Compounds 1-3 exhibit the same structural features, i.e., the presence of a 16-oxo group in the holostane-type triterpene aglycone with the C(7)=C(8) bond, but differ in the side chains and the tetrasaccharide moieties. Compound 1 possesses one sulfate group, while 2 and 3 are disulfated glycosides. All the glycosides showed significant in vitro cytotoxicities against human gastric cancer MKN-45 and human colon cancer HCT-116 cells.     

Cytotoxic Triterpenoids from the Stalks of Microtropis triflora

Bioassay‐guided phytochemical investigation of the stalks of Microtropis triflora Merr . & F.L. Freeman led to the isolation of ten triterpenes 1  –  10 , including one novel compound 3,24‐epoxy‐2α,24‐dihydroxyfriedelan‐29‐oic acid ( 1 ). Their chemical structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including HR‐ESI mass spectrometry, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and by comparison with the data reported. The cytotoxicities of compounds 1  –  10 against a panel of cultured human tumor cell lines (Bcap37, SMMC7721, HeLa, CNE) were evaluated. The new compound 1 showed moderate anti‐tumor activities with IC₅₀ values of 39.22, 29.24, 23.28, and 68.81 μm /ml, respectively. These results might be helpful for explaining the use of M. triflora in traditional medicine. Triterpenes are characteristic of Microtropis genus and could be useful as potential chemotaxonomic markers.     

A novel Ganoderma lucidum G0119 fermentation strategy for enhanced triterpenes production by statistical process optimization and addition of oleic acid

A novel enhanced triterpenes fermentation production process by Ganoderma lucidum G0119 with the addition of oleic acid in the medium has been developed and optimized. All of the six exogenous additives tested were found to exhibit stimulatory effect on mycelial growth and triterpenes biosynthesis by G. lucidum. The results show that oleic acid addition had significant role in promoting triterpenes production. The optimal concentration and time of oleic acid addition were determined to be 30 mL/L and 0 h, respectively. Furthermore, three significant factors influencing triterpenes production were identified as glucose, magnesium sulfate and temperature using the Plackett–Burman design. The optimized conditions by central composite design were 27.83 g/L glucose, 1.32 g/L magnesium sulfate, 26.2°C temperature. The triterpenes fermentation yield with the optimized medium based on actual confirmatory experimental data in 6 L fermentor was 1.076 g/L versus the statistical model predicted value of 1.080 g/L. Our innovatively developed triterpenes fermentation production technology and process has been proven to produce high triterpenes productivity and yield conceivably useful for industrial production.     

Lupane,friedelane, oleanane,and ursane triterpenes from the stem of Siphonodon celastrineus Griff

Twenty-one triterpenes consisting of a lupane derivative, two friedelanes, an oleanane derivative, and 17 ursane-type triterpenoids, together with three known triterpenes, three sterols, a fatty acid, a sesquiterpene alkaloid, and a glycerol derivative, were isolated from the stem of Siphonodon celastrineus. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, as well as comparison with literature data. Twenty-seven metabolites of these were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against six human cancer cell lines. The biosynthetic formation of a 1,4-dioxane bridge is also discussed.     

Towards the characterization of squalene synthase activity in extracts of Zymomonas mobilis

Abstract Extracts of Zymomonas mobilis in the presence of NADPH converted tritium-labelled farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) into squalene, resulting from the activity of squalene synthase, as well as diploptene and diplopterol, derived from further squalene cyclisation. An unidentified isoprenoid representing up to 70% of the conversion products of FPP and different from presqualene alcohol was also formed, even in the absence of NADPH. Addition of squalestatin 1, an inhibitor of squalene synthase, blocked biosynthesis from FPP of the three former triterpenes, in accordance with the role of squalene synthase in their formation, as well as that of the unknown compound.