Antitumor agents 201. Cytotoxicity of harmine and beta-carboline analogs

Twenty-six beta-carbolines were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity in a human tumor cell line panel. Harmine (3) showed significant activity against several cell lines including three drug-resistant KB sublines with various resistance mechanisms. Alpha-(4-nitrobenzylidine) harmine (16) had a broad cytotoxicity spectrum (ED50 values from 0.3-1.2 microg/mL against 1A9, KB, SaOS-2, A549, SK-MEL-2, U-87-MG, and MCF-7 cells).     

Antitumor agents. 258. Syntheses and evaluation of dietary antioxidant--taxoid conjugates as novel cytotoxic agents

Various dietary antioxidants, including vitamins, flavonoids, curcumin, and a coumarin, were conjugated with paclitaxel (1) through an ester linkage. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against several human tumor cell lines as well as the corresponding normal cell lines. Interestingly, most tested conjugates selectively inhibited the growth of 1A9 (ovarian) and KB (nasopharyngeal) tumor cells without activity against other cell lines. Particularly, conjugates 16 and 20 were highly active against 1A9 (ED(50) value of 0.005 microg/mL) as well as KB (ED(50) values of 0.005 and 0.14 microg/mL, respectively) cells. Compound 22b, the glycinate ester salt of vitamin E conjugated with 1, appears to be a promising lead for further development as a clinical trial candidate as it exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Panc-1 (pancreatic cancer) with less effect on the related E6E7 (normal) cell line.     

Antitumor agents. Part 214: synthesis and evaluation of curcumin analogues as cytotoxic agents

Fifty-eight curcumin analogues were prepared and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of human tumor cell lines. Compound was the most potent analogue against several cell lines, including HOS (bone cancer) and 1A9 (breast cancer), with ED50 values of 0.97 and <0.63 microg/mL, respectively.     

Total synthesis and bioactivity of unique flavone desmosdumotin B and its analogs

The first total synthesis of a unique flavone natural product, desmosdumotin B (1), was accomplished. Furthermore, three novel flavonoids, 6-8, and a novel chalcone, 9, were synthesized. The new compounds were evaluated as in vitro inhibitors of human cancer cell growth. The synthetic 1 showed significant cytotoxic activity against a multi-drug resistant cell line (KB-VIN) with an ED50 value of 2.0 microg/mL compared to >40 microg/mL against the parental KB cell line. Flavone 7 displayed selective activity against 1A9 ovarian carcinoma with an ED50 value of 0.7 microg/mL. Selected 1-analogs and synthetic intermediates were also screened for antitumor-promoting effects as inhibitors of EBV-EA activation. Among them, trihydroxyacetophenone derivatives 11 and 14 showed good activity.     

Antimalarial halorosellinic acid from the marine fungus Halorosellinia oceanica.

Three known compounds, 2-hexylidene-3-methylsuccinic acid (1), cytochalasin Q (2), and 5-carboxymellein (3), together with two new derivatives, 2-hexylidene-3-methylsuccinic acid 4-methyl ester (4) and an ophiobolane sesterterpene named halorosellinic acid (5), were isolated from culture broth of the marine fungus Halorosellinia oceanica BCC 5149. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against KB and BC-1 cell lines with IC(50) values of 1-13 microg/mL, while compounds 2, 3, 5, and 6 showed antimalarial activity with respective IC(50) values of 17, 4, 13, and 19 microg/mL. Halorosellinic acid (5) possessed only weak antimycobacterial activity with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 200 microg/mL.     

Novel biologically active bibenzyls from Bauhinia saccocalyx Pierre

Four new bibenzyls, bauhinols A-D (1-4), together with the two known bibenzyls 5 and 6, were isolated from the roots of Bauhinia saccocalyx, and their structures were elucidated by analyses of spectroscopic data. Bauhinol A (1) exhibits significant cytotoxicity towards NCI-H187 (small-cell lung cancer), BC (breast cancer), and KB (oral-cavity cancer) cell lines, with IC50 values of 2.7-4.5 microg/ml. Bauhinol B (2) is cytotoxic against NCI-H187 (IC50 = 1.1 microg/ml) and BC (IC50 = 9.7 microg/ml) cell lines, but inactive toward the KB cell line (at 20 microg/ml). Compound 2 also is mildly antifungal towards Candia albicans (IC50 = 28.9 microg/ml). Bibenzyl 6 is active against NCI-H187 (IC50 = 14.1 microg/ml) and BC (IC50 = 4.0 microg/ml) cells, but inactive (at 20 microg/ml) toward the KB cell line. Compounds 1, 2, and 6 show mild antimycobacterial activities, with MIC values of 25-50 microg/ml, but are inactive at 20 microg/ml against the K1 malarial parasite strain (Plasmodium falciparum). While bauhinol A (1) is inactive against cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), compounds 2 and 6 inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, with IC50 values comparable to those of the standard drug, aspirin (Table 3).     

Antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial activities of the extract and isolated compounds from Austroplenckia populnea (Celastraceae)

Austroplenckia populnea (Celastraceae), known as "marmelinho do campo", is used in Brazilian folk medicine as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoural agent. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the antimicrobial, antileishmanial and antimalarial activities of the crude hydroalcoholic extract of A. populnea (CHE) and some of its isolated compounds. The phytochemical study of the CHE was carried out affording the isolation of methyl populnoate (1), populnoic acid (2), and stigmast-5-en-3-O-beta-(D-glucopyranoside) (3). This is the first time that the presence of compound 3 in A. populnea is reported. The results showed that the CHE presents antifungal and antibacterial activities, especially against Candida glabrata and Candida albicans, for which the CHE showed IC50 values of 0.7 microg mL(-1) and 5.5 microg mL(-1), respectively, while amphotericin B showed an IC50 value of 0.1 microg mL(-1) against both microorganisms. Compounds 1-3 were inactive against all tested microorganisms. In the antileishmanial activity test against Leishmania donovani, the CHE showed an IC50 value of 52 microg mL(-1), while compounds 2 and 3 displayed an IC50 value of 18 microg mL(-1) In the antimalarial assay against Plasmodium falciparum (D6 and W2 clones), it was observed that all evaluated samples were inactive. In order to compare the effect on the parasites with the toxicity to mammalian cells, the cytotoxicity activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against Vero cells, showing that all evaluated samples exhibited no cytotoxicity at the maximum dose tested.     

(E) -6-(1-alkyloxyiminoalkyl)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones: synthesis, cytotoxic activity and antitumor activity

All of 13 (E)-6-(1-alkyloxyiminomethyl)-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives synthesized showed high ED50 values, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 microg/mL against L1210 cells. However, they were inactive on A549 cells. Nine compounds exhibited higher T/C (%) values (318-388%) than Adriamycin (T/C, 315%).     

Antiviral isoflavonoid sulfate and steroidal glycosides from the fruits of Solanum torvum

The C-4 sulfated isoflavonoid, torvanol A (1), and the steroidal glycoside, torvoside H (3), together with the known glycoside, torvoside A (2), were isolated from a MeOH extract of Solanum torvum fruits. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucosidase, torvoside A (2) and torvoside H (3) yielded the corresponding acetal derivatives 4 and 5, respectively. Torvanol A (1), torvoside H (3) and compound 5 exhibited antiviral activity (herpes simplex virus type 1) with IC(50) values of 9.6, 23.2 and 17.4 microg/ml, respectively. Compounds 1-5 showed no cytotoxicity (at 50 microg/ml) against BC, KB and Vero cell lines.     

Design, synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel spin-labeled rotenone derivatives

Three series of novel spin-labeled rotenone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines, A-549, DU-145, KB and KBvin. All of the derivatives showed promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against the tumor cell lines tested, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.075 to 0.738μg/mL. Remarkably, all of the compounds were more potent than paclitaxel against KBvin in vitro, and compounds 3a and 3d displayed the highest cytotoxicity against this cell line (IC(50) 0.075 and 0.092μg/mL, respectively). Based on the observed cytotoxicity, structure-activity relationships have been described.     

New AZT analogues having 5'-alkylsulfonyl groups: synthesis and anti-HIV activity

New derivatives of azidothymidine (AZT) substituted by alkyl and alkylsulphonyl groups at N-3 and C-5', respectively, have been synthesized. The new synthesized derivatives showed remarkable anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 activity in MT-4 cells. Compounds 8 and 10 have IC(50) values of 0.83 and 0.31 microg/mL against HIV-1 with therapeutic index of 83 and 403, respectively, and IC(50) values of 0.93 and 0.29 microg/mL against HIV-2 with therapeutic index of 74 and 431, respectively. This means that compounds 8 and 10 were cytotoxic to MT-4 cells at CC(50) of 69.2 microg/mL and 125 microg/mL, respectively.     

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of some novel diarylsulfonylureas as potential cytotoxic and antimicrobial agents

A series of novel diarylsulfonylureas (1-28) have been synthesized and characterized by FTIR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and LC mass spectral analysis. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities. Among the tested compounds for cytotoxicity using Brine Shrimp Lethality assay, compounds 18 and 22 exhibited significant cytotoxicity at ED(50) values 3.96±0.21 and 4.02±0.19μg/mL, respectively. This level of activity was found comparable to that of the reference drug podophyllotoxin with ED(50) value 3.61±0.17μg/mL and it could be a remarkable starting point to develop new lead molecules with major cytotoxicity. Antimicrobial activity was screened using agar well diffusion assay method against selected Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungal strains. Most of the compounds showed promising antibacterial and antifungal activity and the activity expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in μg/mL.     

A new cytotoxic apotirucallane from the roots of Walsura trichostemon

A new apotirucallane, trichostemonate (1), was isolated from the roots of Walsura trichostemon. The complete structural assignment of this new compound was elucidated from spectroscopic methods and the stereochemistry of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Moreover, this new compound was evaluated for its cytotoxicity (KB and HeLa cells), and showed significant cytotoxicity against both KB and HeLa cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 3.28 and 0.93 μg/mL, respectively.     

S-Euglobals: biomimetic synthesis, antileishmanial, antimalarial, and antimicrobial activities

Several new euglobal analogues (named as S-euglobals) were synthesized from phloroglucinol via a biomimetic three-component reaction involving Knoevenagel condensation followed by [4+2]-Diels-Alder cycloaddition with monoterpene. Newly synthesized euglobal analogues involve monoterpenes that have not yet been encountered in natural euglobals. S-Euglobals along with previously synthesized robustadial A and B were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial, antimalarial, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. Out of 16, nine analogues were found to exhibit antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Analogue 7 was the most potent with IC(50) of 2.4 microg/mL and IC(90) of 8 microg/mL, followed by analogues 8 and 11 (IC(50) 5.5 and 9.5 microg/mL). Antileishmanial activity of robustadial A (5) and B (6) was moderate with IC(50) of 20 and 16 microg/mL, respectively. Robustadial A and B and S-euglobal 8 exhibited weak antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (IC(50) of 2.7-4.76 microg/mL). Few of the euglobal analogues showed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Amongst these, analogue 11 was the most potent with IC(50) of 1.0 microg/mL and MIC of 5.0 microg/mL. Most of the compounds were not cytotoxic up to 25 microg/mL in a panel of cell lines consisting of both cancer (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, and SK-OV-3) as well as non-cancer kidney (Vero and LLC-PK11) cells.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of cholest-4 alpha-methyl-7-en-3beta-ol derivatives

Cholest-4 alpha-methyl-7-en-3beta-ol (1) has potent inhibitory activity against pc 12 tumor with 0.5043 ratio (10 microg/mL). This paper describes a series of structural modification of this compound, which focus on 3beta-hydroxyl group and 7(8)-double bond. The synthesized derivatives of 1 were tested for human cancer cell lines including colon cancer (HCT-8), liver cancer (BEL-7402) and nasopharyngeal cancer (KB) cells. The results showed that cholest-4 alpha-methyl-8-en-3beta,7 alpha-diol 6a inhibits KB cell significantly with IC(50) 1.32 x 10(-9)microg/mL. In addition, the cytotoxic properties of this compound against HCT-8 and BEL-7402 are excellent with IC(50) 1.2 microg/mL.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of Mannich bases of heterocyclic chalcone analogs as cytotoxic agents

The chalcone skeleton (1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one) is a unique template that is associated with various biological activities. We synthesized Mannich bases of heterocyclic chalcones (9-47) using a one-step Claisen-Schmidt condensation of heterocyclic aldehydes with Mannich bases of acetophenones, and tested the target compounds for cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines (prostate, PC-3; breast, MCF-7; nasopharynx, KB) and a multi-drug resistant subline (KB-VIN). Out of the 39 chalcones synthesized, 31 compounds showed potent activity against at least one cell line with IC(50) values ranging from 0.03 to 3.80 microg/mL. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) are also discussed.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of 6,11-dihydro-pyridazo- and 6,11-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-b]phenazine-6,11-diones

The 6,11-dihydro-pyridazo[2,3-b]phenazine-6,11-dione and 6,11-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-b]phenazine-6,11-dione derivatives were synthesized from 6,7-dichloro-5,8-phthalazinedione and 6,7-dichloro-5,8-quinolinedione, respectively, producing a series of new anticancer drugs. The cytotoxic activities of the prepared compounds were evaluated by a SRB (Sulforhodamine B) assay against the following tumor cell lines: A459 (human lung), SK-OV-3 (human ovarian), SK-MEL-2 (human melanoma), XF498 (human CNS), and HCT 15 (human colon). Almost all the derivatives of the 6,11-dihydro-pyridazo[2[,3-b]phenazine-6,11-dione and 6,11-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-b]phenazine-6,11-dione, tetracyclic heteroquinone analogues with four or three nitrogen atoms, exhibited excellent cytotoxicity on almost all the human tumor cell lines tested. Specifically, 6,11-dihydro-pyridazo[2,3-b]phenazine-6,11-dione (4a) exhibited potent activity against all the tumor cell lines, and in particular, its cytotoxic effect against HCT 15 (ED(50)=0.004 microg/mL) was 25 times greater than that of doxorubicin (ED(50)=0.093 microg/mL).     

Synthesis and biological activities of 2-oxocycloalkylsulfonamides

A series of novel 2-oxocycloalkylsulfonamides (4) were synthesized and their structures confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, and elemental analysis. The bioassay showed that they have fair to excellent fungicidal activities against Botrytis cinerea Pers and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Among them, compounds 4A(10), 4A(11), 4A(12), 4B(2), and 4B(3), the EC(50) values of which were 2.12, 3.66, 3.96, 2.38, and 2.43 microg/mL, respectively, displayed excellent fungicidal activity against B. cinerea Pers, and are comparable with commercial fungicide procymidone (the EC(50) value is 2.45 microg/mL). 3D QSAR against B. cinerea Pers was studied, a statistically significant and chemically meaningful CoMFA model was developed and some compounds which have a high predicted activity were forecasted. In addition, the bioassay also showed that the compounds have good inhibitory activities against human tumor cells HL-60, BGC-823, Bel-7402 and KB. It is interesting to point out that the antitumor activities of compounds 4 are in accordance with their fungicidal activity to a great extent: compounds having relatively best antitumor activities (4A(10), 4A(11), 4A(12), and 4B(3)) also displayed excellent fungicidal activity.     

Antileishmanial activity, cytotoxicity and QSAR analysis of synthetic dihydrobenzofuran lignans and related benzofurans

A series of synthetic dihydrobenzofuran lignans and related benzofurans were evaluated for their cytotoxicity in a screening panel consisting of various human tumour cell lines, and for their antiprotozoal activity against L. donovani (axenic amastigotes), chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum (strain K1), Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and T. cruzi, and for cytotoxicity on L6 cells. No promising cytotoxicities against human tumour cell lines were observed for newly synthesised compounds, but the dimerisation product of some lipophylic esters of caffeic acid, such as compound 2g, showed a high activity against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum (strain K1) (IC50 0.43 microg/mL) and L. donovani (axenic amastigotes) (IC50 0.12 microg/mL), which was confirmed in an infected macrophage assay (IC50 0.19 microg/mL). QSAR models for the cytotoxic and antileishmanial activity were generated using Quasar receptor surface modelling.     

2-Substituted benzoxazinone analogues as anti-human coronavirus (anti-HCoV) and ICAM-1 expression inhibition agents

A series of 2-substituted benzoxazinones were synthesized and subjected to anti-human coronavirus and ICAM-1 expression inhibition assays. Among them, compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 exhibited significant anti-HCoV activities, and the IC(50) value of these compounds are 6.08, 5.06, 6.83, 1.92, 7.59, and 5.79 microg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 6 showed significant inhibitory effect on ICAM-1 expression, the ED(50) values of 1 and 6 are 1.00 and 0.50 microg/mL, respectively.