Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Ureides and Carbamates of Betulinic Acid and Its Derivatives

Ureides and carbamates of betulinic acid and its derivatives were prepared in good yields by interaction of betulinic acid, betulonic acid, and betulonic acid 3-oxime with amines, amino acids, and alcohols. Ureides of betulonic acid containingL-Val and L-Met residues were found to be effective against herpes simplex type 1 virus.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of hydrazides and substituted benzalhydrazides of betulinic acid and its derivatives

New nitrogen-containing derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids, hydrazides and N'-benzalhydrazides, were synthesized. Their antiviral activities toward of influenza A virus, herpes simplex type I virus, enterovirus ECHO6, and HIV-1 were studied in vitro. Betulinic acid 3-oxime was found to have the highest activity against the influenza virus. Betulonic acid, betulinic acid 4-chlorobenzalhydrazide, betulonic acid 3-oxime benzalhydrazide, and betulinic acid hydrazide inhibited the replication of herpes simplex type I virus. Betulinic acid hydrazide also showed antiviral activity toward HIV-1. All the derivatives of betulinic acid under study displayed a low antiviral activity toward enterovirus ECHO6.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Hydrazides and Substituted Benzalhydrazides of Betulinic Acid and Its Derivatives

New nitrogen-containing derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids, hydrazides and N"-benzalhydrazides, were synthesized. Their antiviral activities toward viruses of influenza A virus, herpes simplex type I virus, enterovirus ECHO6, and HIV-1 were studied in vitro. Betulinic acid 3-oxime was found to have the highest activity against the influenza virus. Betulonic acid, betulinic acid 4-chlorobenzalhydrazide, betulonic acid 3-oxime benzalhydrazide, and betulinic acid hydrazide inhibited the replication of herpes simplex type I virus. Betulinic acid hydrazide also showed antiviral activity toward HIV-1. All the derivatives of betulinic acid under study displayed a low antiviral activity toward enterovirus ECHO6.     

Biotransformation of betulinic and betulonic acids by fungi

Betulinic acid (1), a triterpenoid found in many plant species, has attracted attention due to its important pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer and anti-HIV activities. The closely related, betulonic acid (2) also has similar properties. In order to obtain derivatives potentially useful for detailed pharmacological studies, both compounds were submitted to incubations with selected microorganisms. In this work, both were individually metabolized by the fungi Arthrobotrys, Chaetophoma and Dematium, isolated from the bark of Platanus orientalis as well as with Colletotrichum, obtained from corn leaves; such fungal transformations are quite rare in the scientific literature. Biotransformations with Arthrobotrys converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-7beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4) and 3-oxo-7beta,30-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (5); Colletotrichum converted betulinic acid (1) into 3-oxo-15alpha-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic (6) acid whereas betulonic acid (2) was converted into the same product and 3-oxo-7beta,15alpha-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4); Chaetophoma converted betulonic acid (2) into 3-oxo-25-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (7) and both Chaetophoma and Dematium converted betulinic acid (1) into betulonic acid (2). Those fungi, therefore, are useful for mild, selective oxidations of lupane substrates at positions C-3, C-7, C-15, C-25 and C-30.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of cyclopropane derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids

New cyclopropane derivatives of betulin were synthesized by attachment of dichlorocarbenes or dibromocarbenes to the double bond of betulin diacetate, followed by the deprotection of hydroxyl groups. The betulin cyclopropane derivative was obtained from 20,29-dihydro-20,29-dichloromethylenebetulin by treatment with lithium in tert-butanol. These compounds were converted into the corresponding derivatives of betulonic acid by oxidation with chromium trioxide. The reduction of oxo group with sodium borohydride led to the corresponding derivatives of betulinic acid. 20,29-Dihydro-20,29-dichloromethylenebetulinic acid proved to be the most cytotoxic toward human melanoma of the Colo 38 and Bro lines and human ovarian carcinoma of the CaOv line (IC50 10 microM). 20,29-Dihydro-20,29-dibromomethylenebetulinic acid inhibited the growth of the Bro melanoma cell line and the CaOv carcinoma cell line practically by 50% at a concentration of 10 microM. The other derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids were active toward all of the three cancer cell lines at concentrations higher than 10 microM. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2005, vol. 31, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Effect of nitrogen-containing derivatives of the plant triterpenes betulin and glycyrrhetic acid on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM, and Hep G2 tumor cells

Derivatives of the available plant triterpenes glycyrrhetic acid and betulin (betulin succinates and amides of betulonic and 18beta-glycyrrhetic acids containing fragments of long-chain amino acids and a peptide) were synthesized. The inhibitory action of these compounds on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM. and Hep G2 tumor cells and their effect on the apoptosis of these cells were studied. It was shown that betulonic acid amides are more effective inhibitors of the tumor cell growth than the corresponding amides of glycyrrhetic acid. It was also found that betulonic acid amides containing fragments of caprylic, pelargonic, and undecanoic acids are more effective inhibitors of tumor cell growth than betulinic acid. The 17-dipeptide derivative of betulonic acid N-{N-[3-oxo-20(29)-lupen-28-oyl]-9-aminononanoyl}-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid exhibited the maximum inhibitory activity toward the tumor cells studied. Data on the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by betulin derivatives at a concentration of 10 microg/ml were obtained by flow cytometry. The amides of betulonic acid proved to be the most effective inducers of apoptosis.     

Synthesis of triterpenoid triazine derivatives from allobetulone and betulonic acid with biological activities

The synthetic transformation and modification of natural products with the aim to improve the biological properties is an area of current interest. The triterpenoids betulin and betulinic acid are very abundant in nature and now are commercially available. In our study, starting from betulin and betulinic acid, we obtained allobetulone and betulonic acid in a few synthetic steps. The ketone function at the A-ring was used as the starting point for the synthesis of a series of 1,2,4-triazine-fused triterpenoids. The alkylation and Liebeskind–Srogl coupling were used for further substitution of 1,2,4-triazines, and the intramolecular hetero Diels–Alder reaction leads to interesting fused thienopyridine derivatives. All new compounds were tested for their cytostatic activities against murine leukemia L1210, human cervix carcinoma HeLa and human lymphoblast CEM tumor cells. The results show that some triterpenoid triazine betulonic acid derivatives have a promising cytostatic activity in vitro and could be used as potential leads for the development of new type of anti-cancer agents. Several compounds were also endowed with anti-HCMV activity in the low micromolar range.     

Effect of nitrogen-containing derivatives of the plant triterpenes betulin and glycyrrhetic acid on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM,and Hep G2 tumor cells

Derivatives of the available plant triterpenes glycyrrhetic acid and betulin (betulin succinates and amides of betulonic and 18β-glycyrrhetic acids containing fragments of long-chain amino acids and a peptide) were synthesized. The inhibitory action of these compounds on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM, and Hep G2 tumor cells and their effect on the apoptosis of these cells were studied. It was shown that betulonic acid amides are more effective inhibitors of the tumor cell growth than the corresponding amides of glycyrrhetic acid. It was also found that betulonic acid amides containing fragments of caprylic, pelargonic, and undecanoic acids are more effective inhibitors of tumor cell growth than betulinic acid. The 17-dipeptide derivative of betulonic acid N-{N-[3-oxo-20(29)-lupen-28-oyl]-9-aminononanoyl}-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid exhibited the maximum inhibitory activity toward the tumor cells studied. Data on the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by betulin derivatives at a concentration of 10 μg/ml were obtained by flow cytometry. The amides of betulonic acid proved to be the most effective inducers of apoptosis.     

Epimerization of hydroxyl group in the lupan series of triterpenes

Two methods of obtaining of 3 alpha-betulinic acid and related compounds from their 3 beta-epimers were studied: the reaction of bimolecular substitution and the stereoselective reduction of 3-ketoderivatives. The substitution of acyloxy by formyloxy group in 3-O-tosyllupeol or of the betulin hydroxyl by benzoyloxy group resulted only in delta 2, 3-elimination products, with none of the expected products of bimolecular substitution being found. The catalytic hydrogenation of betulonic acid over Raney nickel resulted only in reduction of the isopropenyl double bond, whereas the use of 5% Ru/C gave a 60:40 mixture of epimers of dihydrobetulinic acid. Practically the same mixture of betulinic acid epimers was obtained when reducing betulonic acid with L-Selectride. The cytotoxic activity of 3 alpha-betulinic acid increased toward melanoma Bro cells and decreased toward melanoma MS cells.     

Betulinic acid and its derivatives, potent DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors, from the bark of Bischofia javanica

DNA Topoisomerases (Topos) II are target enzymes for anticancer chemotherapeutic drug development. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CHCl3 extract of the bark of Bischofia javanica led to the isolation of betulinic acid (1) and its derivatives, betulonic acid (2), 3beta-O-(Z)-coumaroylbetulinic acid (3), and 3beta-O-(E)-coumaroylbetulinic acid (4). These compounds were found to be catalytic inhibitors of Topo II activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.38 to 58 microM. The acylation of the OH group at C(3) of betulinic acid exhibited stronger Topo II inhibitory activity.     

Synthesis,modification, and antimicrobial activity of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpiperazinyl amides of triterpenic acids

N-methylpyperazinyl amides of betulinic, platanic, glycyrrhetic, oleanolic, ursolic, and moronic acids were synthesized and modified. Betulin and betulonic acid showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 90 mg/ml, and betulin manifested a bacteriostatic effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae at a concentration of 60 mg/ml. Among the studied N-methylpyperazinyl amides, the highest activity against S. aureus was observed for a betulonic acid derivative.     

Synthesis of aminopropylamino derivatives of betulinic and oleanolic acids

Triterpenoids with the following amine fragments in C3 and C28 positions were synthesized on the basis of betulinic and oleanolic acids: (3-aminopropoxy)-, 3-acetyl-(3-aminopropyl)amino-, 6-[bis(3-aminopropyl)amino]hexylamino-, and (3-aminopropyl)-4-aminophenylsulfonyl-4-phenylamino. Amide of betulonic acid with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfonic substituent was shown to exhibit no antitumor effect, but to have a pronounced anti-inflammatory activity.     

Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of Cyclopropane Derivatives of Betulinic and Betulonic Acids

New cyclopropane derivatives of betulin were synthesized by attachment of dichlorocarbenes or dibromocarbenes to the double bond of betulin diacetate, followed by the deprotection of hydroxyl groups. The betulin cyclopropane derivative was obtained from 20,29-dihydro-20,29-dichloromethylenebetulin by treatment with lithium in tert-butanol. These compounds were converted into the corresponding derivatives of betulonic acid by oxidation with chromium trioxide. The reduction of oxo group with sodium borohydride led to the corresponding derivatives of betulinic acid. 20,29-Dihydro-20,29-dichloromethylenebetulinic acid proved to be the most cytotoxic toward human melanoma of the Colo 38 and Bro lines and human ovarian carcinoma of the CaOv line (IC₅₀ 10 μM). 20,29-Dihydro-20,29-dibromomethylenebetulinic acid inhibited the growth of the Bro melanoma cell line and the CaOv carcinoma cell line practically by 50% at a concentration of 10 μM. The other derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids were active toward all of the three cancer cell lines at concentrations higher than 10 μM.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 320–325.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Symon, Veselova, Kaplun, Vlasenkova, Fedorova, Lyutik, Gerasimova, Shvets.     

蓝桉果实中的五环三萜化学成分

从蓝桉果实乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯部位分离得到7个五环三萜化合物,经理化和波谱分析鉴定为3β-乙酰基-乌索-11,12-烯-28,13β内酯(1)、桦木酮酸(2)、白桦脂酸(3)、2α-羟基白桦脂酸(4)、2α,3β-二羟基乌苏-12-烯-28-酸(5)、熊果酸(6)、3β-羟基-乌索-11,12-烯-28,13β内酯(7),其中化合物1,4,5和7系首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Epimerization of Hydroxyl Group in Lupan Series Triterpenoids

Two methods of obtaining 3-betulinic acid and related compounds from their 3-epimers were studied: the reaction of bimolecular substitution and the stereoselective reduction of 3-ketoderivatives. The substitution of acyloxy by formyloxy group in 3--tosyllupeol or of the belulin hydroxyl by benzoyloxy group resulted only in ^{2, 3}-elimination products, with none of the expected products of bimolecular substitution being found. The catalytic hydrogenation of betulonic acid over Raney nickel resulted only in reduction of the isopropenyl double bond, whereas the use of 5% Ru/C gave a 60 : 40 mixture of epimers of dihydrobetulinic acid. Practically the same mixture of betulinic acid epimers was obtained when reducing betulonic acid with L-Selectride. The cytotoxic activity of 3-betulinic acid increased toward the Bro melanoma cells and decreased toward the MS melanoma cells.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of 17-carboxylic acid modified 23-hydroxy betulinic acid ester derivatives

New 17-carboxylic acid modified 23-hydroxy betulinic acid ester derivatives were prepared and tested for cytotoxic activity on five cancer cell lines in vitro: all tested compounds showed stronger cytotoxic activity than 23-hydroxy betulinic acid and betulinic acid. In addition, compound 5a was tested for anti-tumor activity in vivo: it had much better anti-tumor activity than 23-OH betulinic acid and had similar anti-tumor activity with cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of amides and conjugates of betulonic acid with amino acids

Betulonic acid amides with aliphatic and heterocyclic amines and with L-amino acids were synthesized by the acid chloride method. Betulonic acid amide and L-methionine derivatives of betulonic acid and its 3-oxime effectively inhibit the influenza A virus. Betulonic acid octadecylamide is active against the herpes simplex type 1 virus. The conjugate of betulonic acid 3-oxime with L-methionine is also active toward HIV-1. The tested compounds mainly show no activity toward the ECHO6 virus, which is devoid of a coat. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 1; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

不同浓度桦木酸对人胃癌MGC-803细胞自噬的影响

目的: 本研究利用不同浓度桦木酸处理人胃癌MGC-803细胞,以探究其对细胞自噬的影响。方法: 将人胃癌MGC-803细胞分为4组,每组3个复孔,对照组不加桦木酸处理,其余三组分别加入终浓度为10、20、30 mg/L桦木酸。桦木酸处理细胞48 h后,qRT-PCR检测桦木酸对人胃癌MGC-803细胞自噬相关基因mRNA表达的影响。Western blot检测药物处理细胞自噬相关基因的蛋白表达。利用免疫荧光检测药物处理后MGC-803细胞内LC3蛋白的胞内定位及表达。结果: 与对照组相比,在10～30 mg/L浓度范围内,桦木酸处理的人胃癌MGC-803细胞LC3、Beclin-1 mRNA的表达明显升高(P＜0.05),Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ蛋白的表达显著升高(P＜0.05),LC3-Ⅰ蛋白的表达明显降低(P＜0.05),其中30 mg/L处理组表现最佳。此外,桦木酸还可诱导MGC-803细胞LC3蛋白在细胞质内形成点状聚集。结论: 在10～30 mg/L浓度范围内,桦木酸能诱导人胃癌MGC-803细胞发生自噬。     

Cytotoxic lupane-type triterpenoids from Acacia mellifera

One new and eight previously described lupane-type metabolites were isolated for the first time from Acacia mellifera (Leguminosae). Based on spectral analyses, the structure of the new compound was elucidated as 28-hydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20-(29)-en-30-al (1), while the known compounds were identified as 3-oxo-lup-20-(29)-en-30-al (2), 3-hydroxy-lup-20-(29)-en-30-al (3), 28-hydroxy-lup-20-(29)-en-3-one (4), lupenone (5), lupeol (6), betulin (7), betulinic acid (8), and betulonic acid (9). Metabolites 2, 3, and 4 are reported for the first time in the Leguminosae family. The cytotoxicity of the isolated metabolites was evaluated on the NSCLC-N6 cell line, derived from a human non-small-cell bronchopulmonary carcinoma. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited significant levels of activity.     

响应面法优化乌骨藤中白桦脂酸提取工艺

为优化乌骨藤(Marsdenia tenacissima)中白桦脂酸的提取工艺,在单因素实验的基础上,采用Box-Behnken中心组合设计方法,研究超声功率、提取时间、料液比及提取次数等因素及其交互作用对白桦脂酸提取率的影响。利用Design Expert 8.06软件对数据进行回归分析,得到二次多项式回归方程的预测模型,并通过响应曲面优化方法得到白桦脂酸最佳提取工艺。结果表明,乌骨藤中白桦脂酸的最佳提取工艺为超声功率150 W,提取时间20 min,料液比(g/mL)为1:25,提取2次,白桦脂酸提取率预测值为0.314%,验证值为0.311%。