Isolation of substances with antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities against leukemia cells from the leaves of Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. & Zucc

Extraction of the leaves of Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb. & Zucc. affords extracts and four isolated compounds which exhibit activities against leukemia cells. The chloroform-soluble fraction (ZAC) of the crude extract of this plant showed cytotoxic activity against human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) and myelomonocytic leukemia (WEHI-3) cells with IC₅₀ values of 73.06 and 42.22 μg/mL, respectively. The active ZAC was further separated to yield pheophorbide-a methyl ester (1), pheophorbide-b methyl ester (2), 13²-hydroxyl (13²-S) pheophorbide-a methyl ester (3) and 13²-hydroxyl (13²-R) pheophorbide-b methyl ester (4) whose structures were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 2-4 showed cytotoxic activities against both leukemia cells with IC₅₀ value in the range of 46.76-79.43 nM, whereas compound 1 exhibited only weak cytotoxic activity. The extracts and compounds 1-4 also induced apoptosis and DNA damage in leukemia cells after treatment. The results suggested that the Z. ailanthoides is biologically active against leukemia cells.     

Activation of oxidative stress response by hydroxyl substituted chalcones and cyclic chalcone analogues in mitochondria

We investigated the effect of hydroxyl substituted chalcone (1a) and some chalcone analogues (1b-d) on isolated rat liver mitochondria to gain new insights into the cytotoxic mechanism of these compounds. We observed an inhibitory effect on phosphorylation and the partial uncoupling of compounds 1a and 1d. Increased radical generation and possible covalent interaction of the compounds with cellular thiols resulted in glutathione (GSH) depletion and modulation of the investigated mitochondrial activities. Disruption of interconnected mechanisms as electron transport chain and energetic metabolism, ROS production and insufficiency of antioxidant defensive system could lead to induction of cell death.     

Steroidal saponins from the whole plants of Agave utahensis and their cytotoxic activity

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Agave utahensis Engelm. (Agavaceae) has resulted in the isolation of 15 steroidal saponins (1-15), including five spirostanol saponins (1-5) and three furostanol saponins (11-13). Structures of compounds 1-5 and 11-13 were determined by spectroscopic analysis and the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.     

Synthesis, X-ray structures, electrochemical properties and cytotoxic effects of Co(II) complexes

1-Benzothiazol-2-yl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole (1a) and 1-benzothiazol-2-yl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1b) were reacted with the hexahydrates of cobalt(II) chloride, cobalt(II) nitrate and cobalt(II) perchlorate to give the corresponding complexes 2a-4a and 2b-5b, respectively. Obtained compounds differ in coordination spheres of central atoms. The complex 2a includes a fivefold coordinated cobalt(II) ion, whereas 3a shows a distorted octahedral configuration around the cobalt(II) ion. All complexes were characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, MS and elemental analysis. The X-ray structures of 2a, 3a and 5b complexes were also solved. The cytotoxic properties of the ligand 1a and both series of Co(II) complexes were examined on human leukemia NALM-6 and HL-60 cells and melanoma WM-115 cells. The ligands, were found to have very low cytotoxicity. Complex 3b exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values in the range of 6.9-17.1 μM for three examined cell lines.     

Studies on the cytotoxic activity of synthetic 2H-azirine-2-azetidinone compounds

2-Azetidinones and 2H-azirines show antibacterial and cytotoxic activities, however the biological properties of molecules containing both 2H-azirine and 2-azetidinone functions in the same structure had never been evaluated before. In the present study, two 2H-azirine-2-azetidinones (1 and 2) and three 2H-azirines (3-5) were synthesized from 2-formyl-3-phenyl-2H-azirine-N-arylimines with diphenylketene. The compounds were assayed for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. None of them showed antibacterial activity on the tested strains, but both 2H-azirine-2-azetidinones showed cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines (HL-60, leukemia; HCT-8, colon cancer; MDA-MB-435, melanoma; and SF-295, CNS). The IC₅₀ values of 1 ranged from 1.1 to 10.5 μM and from 3.8 to 26.6 μM for 2. The mechanism of cell growth inhibition of 1 and 2 towards HL-60 cell line was also investigated. Membrane damage, cell viability, DNA synthesis inhibition and morphological changes were evaluated. The preliminary findings suggested that 1 and 2 induce apoptosis.     

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity of gallium(III) complexes anchored by tridentate pyrazole-based ligands

Reactions of GaCl₃ with pyrazole-containing ligands of the pyrazole-imine-phenol (HL¹-HL³) or pyrazole-amine-phenol (HL⁴-HL⁶) types led to the synthesis of well-defined [GaL₂]⁺ homoleptic complexes (1-6). Complexes 1-6 were characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS (electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry), IR and NMR spectroscopies, and in the case of Complex 1 also by X-ray diffraction analysis. In complexes 1-3, the pyrazole-imine-phenolate ligands act as monoanionic chelators that coordinate to the metal in a meridional fashion, while 4-6 contain monoanionic and facially coordinated pyrazole-amine-phenolate ligands. Complexes 1-3 have a greater stability in solution compared to 4-6, which have shown a more pronounced tendency to release the respective ancillary ligands. The cytotoxicity of 1-6 and of the respective ligands (HL¹-HL⁶) was evaluated against human prostate cancer cells PC-3 and human breast cancer cells MCF-7. The substituents of the phenolate rings strongly influenced the cytotoxicity of the compounds. Complexes 3 and 6 that contain chloride substituents at the phenolate rings have shown the highest cytotoxicity, including in the cisplatin-resistant PC-3 cell line. The cytotoxic profile of 3 and 6 is very similar to the one displayed by the respective anchor ligands, respectively HL¹ and HL⁶. The cytotoxic activity of 3 and 6 is slightly increased by the presence of transferrin, and both complexes provoke cell death mainly by induction of apoptotic pathways.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and biological studies of novel mixed ligand Ag(I) complexes with triphenylphosphine and aspirin or salicylic acid

Two new mixed ligand silver(I) complexes of formulae {[Ag(tpp)₃(asp)](dmf)} (1) (aspH = o-acetylsalicylic acid and tpp = triphenylphosphine) and [Ag(tpp)₂(o-Hbza)] (2) (o-HbzaH = o-hydroxy-benzoic acid) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography at ambient conditions. Three phosphorus and one carboxylic oxygen atoms from a de-protonated aspirin ligand in complex 1 and two phosphorus and two carboxylic oxygen atoms from a chelating o-Hbza anion in complex 2 form a tetrahedral geometry around Ag(I) ions in both complexes.Complexes 1 and 2 and the silver(I) nitrate, tpp, aspNa and o-HbzaH were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma cells (LMS), human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) cells with Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay. For both cell lines 1 and 2 were found to be more active than cisplatin. Additionally, 1 and 2 exhibit lower activity on cell growth proliferation of MRC-5 cells. The type of LMS cell death caused by 1 and 2 were evaluated in vitro by use of flow cytometry assay. The results show that at concentrations of 1.5 and 1.9 μΜ of complex 1, 44.1% and 69.4%, respectively of LMS cells undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). When LMS cells were treated with 1.6 and 2.3 μM of 2, LMS cells death was by 29.6% and 81.3%, respectively apoptotic. Finally, the influence of the complexes 1 and 2, upon the catalytic peroxidation of linoleic acid to hydroperoxylinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX) was kinetically and theoretically studied. The binding of 1 and 2 towards LOX was also investigated by Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) ¹H NMR experiments.     

Gold(I) complexes with thiosemicarbazones: cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines and inhibition of thioredoxin reductase activity

Complexes [Au(H2Ac4DH)Cl]?MeOH (1) [Au(H₂2Ac4Me)Cl]Cl (2) [Au(H₂2Ac4Ph)Cl]Cl?2H₂O (3) and [Au(H₂2Bz4Ph)Cl]Cl (4) were obtained with 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4DH), its N(4)-methyl (H2Ac4Me) and N(4)-phenyl (H2Ac4Ph) derivatives, as well as with N(4)-phenyl 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4Ph). The compounds were cytotoxic to Jurkat (immortalized line of T lymphocyte), HL-60 (acute myeloid leukemia), MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) and HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma) tumor cell lines. Jurkat and HL-60 cells were more sensitive than MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells. Upon coordinating to the gold(I) metal centers in complexes (2) and (4), the cytotoxic activity of the H2Ac4Me and H2Bz4Ph ligands increased against the HL-60 and Jurkat tumor cell lines. 2 was more active than auranofin against both leukemia cells. Most of the studied compounds were less toxic than auranofin to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). All compounds induced DNA fragmentation in HL-60 and Jurkat cells indicating their pro-apoptotic potential. Complex (2) strongly inhibited the activity of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), which suggests inhibition of TrxR to be part of its mechanism of action.     

Biotransformation of natural compounds. Oxido-reduction of Sch-642305 by Aspergillus ochraceus ATCC 1009

Sch-642305 is the major compound produced by the endophytic fungi Phomopsis sp. CMU-LMA. Incubation of Sch-642305 with Aspergillus ochraceus ATCC 1009 resting cells leads to three new derivatives through an oxido-reduction of the six-membered ring of the molecule. Reduction of the double bound leads to compound (1), which subsequently undergoes carbonyl reduction to (2) and ring hydroxylation to (3). According to the previously solved crystal structure of Sch-642305 coupled with ¹H NMR NOE correlation and the crystal structure of compound 1, the absolute configurations of the new derivatives were established. In contrast to the parent compound Sch-642305, compound (1) exhibits antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, while all derivatives exhibit cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines, compound (2) achieved an IC₅₀ of 4 nM against human myelogenous leukemia K 562, compared to 20 nM for the parent Sch-642305.     

Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of diterpenes and sterols from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum compactum

Two new diterpenes, lobocompactols A (1) and B (2), and five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the soft coral Lobophytum compactum using combined chromatographic methods and identified based on NMR and MS data. Each compound was evaluated for cytotoxic activity against A549 (lung) and HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia) human cancer cell lines. Among them, compound 5 exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against the A549 cell line with an IC₅₀ of 4.97 ± 0.06 μM. Compounds 3, 4, and 7 showed moderate activity with IC₅₀ values of 23.03 ± 0.76, 31.13 ± 0.08, and 36.45 ± 0.01 μM, respectively. The cytotoxicity of 5 on the A549 cells was comparable to that of the positive control, mitoxantrone (MX). All compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cell line, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 17.80 ± 1.43 to 59.06 ± 2.31 μM. Their antioxidant activity was also measured using oxygen radical absorbance capacity method, compounds 1 and 2 exhibiting moderate peroxyl radical scavenging activity of 1.4 and 1.3 μM Trolox equivalents, respectively, at a concentration of 5 μM.     

Eudistomidins H-K, new β-carboline alkaloids from the Okinawan marine tunicate Eudistoma glaucus

Four new β-carboline alkaloids, eudistomidins H-K (1-4), were isolated from an Okinawan marine tunicate Eudistoma glaucus and the structures of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Eudistomidins H (1) and I (2) were new β-carboline alkaloids possessing a unique fused-tetracyclic ring system consisting of a tetrahydro β-carboline ring and a hexahydropyrimidine ring. Eudistomidin J (3) showed relatively potent cytotoxicity against murine leukemia cells P388 and L1210, and human epidermoid carcinoma cells KB in vitro.     

Amurensiosides A-K, 11 new pregnane glycosides from the roots of Adonis amurensis

Five new pregnane tetraglycosides, amurensiosides A-E (1-5), two new pregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides F (6) and I (9), two new 18-norpregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides G (7) and H (8), and two new pregnane octaglycosides, amurensiosides J (10) and K (11), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the roots of Adonis amurensis. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR data, and the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.     

Synthesis of some new 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazolines bearing benzene sulfonamide as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents

Thirteen new 2-pyrazoline derivatives bearing benzenesulfonamide moiety (2a-m) were synthesized by condensing appropriate chalcones with 4-hydrazinonbenzenesulfonamide hydrochloride and tested for anticancer and anti-inflammatory actions. According to the protocol of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in vitro disease-oriented human cells screening panel assay compounds 2b, 2c, 2e, 2f and 2g exhibited considerable antitumor activities against the entire tested tumor cell lines and showed effective growth inhibition GI₅₀ (MG-MID) values of 2.63, 2.57, 6.61, 3.31 and 2.57 μM, respectively, beside a cyclostatic activity TGI (MG-MID) 9.54, 8.51, 24.0, 19.9 and 8.71 μM, respectively. Two compounds 2g and 2k showed more potent anti-inflammatory activity than celecoxib at 5 h in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema bioassay. These compounds (2g and 2k) proved to have superior gastrointestinal safety profiles as compared to celecoxib, when tested for their ulcerogenic effects. Compounds 2g and 2k showed no inhibition against the enzymatic activity of bovine COX-2 (in vitro).     

Philadelphicalactones C and D and other cytotoxic compounds from Physalis philadelphica

Two new withanolides, philadelphicalactone C (1) and philadelphicalactone D (4), along with the known withaphysacarpin (3), ixocarpanolide (5), philadelphicalactone A (6), and ixocarpalactone A (7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Physalis philadelphica Lam. Structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses and that of philadelphicalactone C (1) was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of all isolates and the derivative 2 against a panel of human cancer cell lines indicated a potent activity of compounds 2, 3, 6, and 7.     

Cytotoxicity of δ-tocotrienols from Kielmeyera coriacea against cancer cell lines

In the search for new anti-cancer compounds, Brazilian Cerrado plant species have been investigated. The hexane root bark extract of Kielmeyera coriacea lead to a mixture of ??-tocotrienol (1) and its dimer (2). The structures of both compounds 1 and 2 were established based on detailed 1D and 2D NMR and EI-MS analyses. The cytotoxicity of the mixture was tested against four human tumor cell lines in the following cultures: MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), HCT-8 (colon), HL-60 (leukemia), and SF-295 (glioblastoma), and displayed IC₅₀ values ranging from 8.08 to 23.58 ??g/mL. Additional assays were performed in order to investigate the mechanism of action of the mixture (1 + 2) against the human leukemia cell line HL-60. The results suggested that the mixture suppressed leukemia growth and reduced cell survival, triggering both apoptosis and necrosis, depending on the concentration.     

Albizosides D and E, two new cytotoxic triterpene saponins from Albizia chinensis

Two oleanane-type triterpene saponins, named albizosides D and E (1 and 2), together with a known compound, Julibroside J₈ (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Albizia chinensis. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established by 1D, 2D NMR experiments, and chemical methods, and they showed moderate cytotoxic activity against a small panel of human tumor cell lines.     

Cytotoxic geranylflavonoids from Bonannia graeca

The analysis of the aerial parts of Bonannia graeca led to the isolation and characterization of polar geranylated flavonoids (6 and 7). The structure elucidation was performed by extensive spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR) and comparison with literature data. All natural flavonoids isolated from B. graeca (1-7) and some synthetic derivatives (8-11) were tested for cytotoxic activity against four human tumor cell lines. Preliminary structure-activity relationship correlations are discussed.     

Prenylated C6-C3 compounds with molecular diversity from the roots of Illicium oligandrum

Eleven prenylated C₆-C₃ compounds, illioliganpyranone A (1), illioliganfunone A-D (2-5), and illioliganone D-I (6-11), together with five known prenylated C₆-C₃ compounds (12-16), were isolated from roots of Illicium oligandrum. The structures of 1-11 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and CD experiments. Possible biosynthetic pathways to compounds 1-16 derived from a common precursor of 5-allylbenzene-1,2,4-triol were postulated. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-8, Bel-7402, BGC-823, A549 and A2780). Compound 15 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against HCT-8, BGC-823, A549, and A2780 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.30-2.57 μM. Compound 16 showed moderate selective cytotoxicity against sensitive A2780 cells with IC₅₀ value of 1.38 μM.     

Amides derived from heteroaromatic amines and selected steryl hemiesters

The current interest of the team has been focused on investigation of novel amides with potential cytotoxicity. The presented series of compounds was synthesized from selected steryl hemiesters and heteroaromatic amines. The synthetic protocol was designed in a simple and economic way, and divided into several general methodologies applicable to the compounds synthesized. The cytotoxicity was tested on cells derived from human T-lymphoblastic leukemia, breast adenocarcinoma and cervical cancer, and compared with tests on normal human fibroblasts. Most of the lanosterol-based compounds (3–5 and 7–10) showed medium to good cytotoxicity, while only two derivatives of cholesterol (18 and 19) showed medium cytotoxicity on human T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. The compounds 8 and 9 displayed the reasonable cytotoxicity among this series of amides, tested on the cell lines of T-lymphoblastic leukemia [14.5 ± 0.4 μM (8) and 18.5 ± 3.9 μM (9)], breast adenocarcinoma [19.5 ± 2.1 μM (8) and 23.1 ± 4.0 μM (9)] and cervical cancer [24.8 ± 5.3 μM (8) and 29.1 ± 4.7 μM (9)]. Only the compound 8 was adequately less active on normal human fibroblasts (40.4 ± 11.1 μM).