Synthesis of aristolactam analogues and evaluation of their antitumor activity

A series of natural aristolactams and their analogues have been prepared and evaluated for antitumor activity against human cancer cells, including multi-drug resistant cell lines. Naturally occurring aristolactams, such as aristolactam BII (cepharanone B), aristolactam BIII, aristolactam FI (piperolactam A), N-methyl piperolactam A, and sauristolactam showed moderate antitumor activities in selected cell lines. However, several synthetic aristolactam derivatives exhibited potent antitumor activities against a broad array of cancer cell lines with GI₅₀ values in the submicromolar range.     

Synthesis of yashabushidiol and its analogues and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines

A total synthesis of yashabushidiol (1a), a linear diarylheptanoid having 1,3- diol system and its analogues has been achieved by alkynylation of 3-hydroxy-5-phenyl pentanal with substituted phenyl acetylenes. All the compounds have shown significant anti-proliferative activity on human leukemia (THP-1, U-937) and melanoma (A-375) cell lines. Compounds 2a and 2b were found to be most potent with an IC₅₀ of 12.82 μg/mL and 12.62 μg/mL, respectively, on THP-1 leukemia cell line.     

Synthesis of pseudo-peptide analogues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin and evaluation of their biological activity on acid secretion

The syntheses of pseudo-tetrapeptides Boc-Trp-psi (CH2-NH)-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 21 and Boc-Trp-Met-psi (CH2-NH)-Asp-Phe-NH2 20, representing the C-terminal tetrapeptide sequence of gastrin, in which amide bonds were replaced by CH2-NH bond, are described, as well as the syntheses of pseudo-peptide analogues Boc-Trp-psi (CH2-NH)-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH2 16, Boc-Trp-Nle-psi (CH2-NH)-Asp-Phe-NH2 11, and Boc-Trp-Nle-Asp-psi (CH2-NH)-Phe-NH2 5, in which the methionyl residue was replaced by a norleucyl residue. Pseudo-peptides 16 and 21, in which the amide bond between Trp and Met (or Nle) was substituted by a CH2-NH bond, stimulated gastric acid secretion in the rat in vivo. Pseudo-peptides 11 and 20, where the amide bond between Met (or Nle) and Asp was replaced by a CH2-NH bond, did not exhibit any activity on acid secretion in the rat in vivo but were potent inhibitors of pentagastrin-induced acid secretion. Peptides 11, 16, 20 and 21 all recognize the gastrin receptor on a mucosal cell preparation. Pseudo-peptide 5, in which the amide bond between Asp and Phe was replaced by a CH2-NH bond, was a less potent inhibitor of pentagastin-induced acid secretion and had a weaker affinity than the other pseudo-peptides.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of boswellic acid analogues

Fifteen stereoisomers of boswellic acid analogues bearing 2-OH, 24-OH, 3-keto or 2-OH, 3-OH, 24-OH groups were synthesised and their structures were confirmed using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR and HRMS. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds toward three human tumor cell lines, K562, PC3 and A549, were evaluated. Preliminary biological evaluation indicated most of these compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity comparable to that of 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA). Notably, several analogues exhibited relatively stronger cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values less than 10 μM against A549 and PC3 cell lines. For the 24-OH series of BAs analogues, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that the stereochemical configurations of compounds incorporating 2-OH, 3-keto or 2-OH, 3-OH group pairs could not predictably or markedly impact cytotoxic activity, except when 2β-OH and/or 3β-OH were present. Esterification of 2-OH, 3-OH and 24-OH groups tended to decrease cytotoxicity.     

硫辛酸抗再灌期心律失常与外源性自由基所致动作电...

By means of Langendorff method the isolated rat heart was perfused with Krebs Henseleit solution. Following ligation of the left descending coronary artery for 10 min the heart was reperfused for 3 min. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation in the reperfusion period was 100%, and the normal sinus rhythm time was shortened to 29 s within 3 min of reperfusion. Administration of lipoic acid (6.8 X 10(-6)-1.7 X 10(-4) mol/L) to the perfusate significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation to 33-50% and prolonged the normal sinus rhythm time to 97-107 s. APA, RP, and Vmax recorded from the guinea pig papillary muscle were depressed due to the deleterious effect of xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine free radical generating system. Under the treatment of lipoic acid (3.5 X 10(-5) mol/L), the depression of APA, RP, and Vmax were significantly relieved. This confirms that lipoic acid treatment, owing to its free radical scavenger effect, is able to protect myocardium from free radical induced electrophysiological abnormalities, and consequently decrease the incidence of malignant arrhythmias.     

Synthesis of novel 4'-modified neplanocin A analogues and their inhibitory activity against S-adenosyl-L-l-homocysteine hydrolase

A new approach was developed for the synthesis of 4'-modified neplanocin A analogues, as potential inhibitors against S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase. The vinylstannane 13, a key intermediate in the present approach, was prepared by radical-mediated sulfur-extrusive stannylation.     

Synthesis of tartaric acid analogues of FR258900 and their evaluation as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors

Di-O-cinnamoylated, -p-coumaroylated, and -feruloylated d-, l- and meso-tartaric acids were synthesized as analogues of the natural product FR258900, a glycogen phosphorylase (GP) inhibitor with in vivo antihyperglycaemic activity. The new compounds inhibited rabbit muscle GP in the low micromolar range, and bound to the allosteric site of the enzyme. The best inhibitor was 2,3-di-O-feruloyl meso-tartaric acid and had K_i values of 2.0 μM against AMP (competitive) and 3.36 μM against glucose-1-phosphate (non-competitive).     

Synthesis of physostigmine analogues and evaluation of their anticholinesterase activities

A series of physostigmine analogues were prepared and evaluated for cholinesterase inhibition activities, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Most of them showed potent inhibition activities against AChE, in which compound 17 especially exhibited significantly higher selectivity over BChE than phenserine, a compound currently on clinical trial. Discussion about the relationships between structure and activity of these derivatives was also presented.     

Synthesis of a second generation chroman/catechol hybrids and evaluation of their activity in protecting neuronal cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death

A new generation of chroman/catechol hybrids bearing heterocyclic five-membered rings, such as 1,2,4-oxadiazole 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3-triazole, tetrazole and isoxazole, were designed and synthesized. The activity of the new derivatives against oxidative stress induced neuronal damage, was evaluated using glutamate-challenged hippocampal HT22 cells.Compound 3 in which a 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl moiety, is directly attached to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring was the most active among the 2-substituted chroman analogues, with EC₅₀ = 254 ± 65 nM. Concerning the 5-subtituted chroman analogues, isoxazole derivative 29 exhibited the strongest activity (EC₅₀ = 245 ± 38 nM). However, 29 was cytotoxic at concentrations higher than 1 μM, while the triazole analogue 24 (EC₅₀ = 801 ± 229 nM), was non-toxic at all concentrations tested.     

Novel lipoic acid analogues that inhibit nitric oxide synthase

The synthesis and biological activity of novel lipoic acid analogues are reported. Lipoic acid and structural homologues coupled to arylthiophene amidine via carboxamide linkers are metabolic antioxidants capable of protecting neuronal cells against glutamate cytotoxicity, preventing loss of intracellular glutathione, and inhibit nitric oxide synthase.     

Norcantharimides, synthesis and anticancer activity: Synthesis of new norcantharidin analogues and their anticancer evaluation

A range of amines was reacted with norcantharidin (2) to provide the corresponding norcantharimides (9-43). Treatment of norcantharidin with allylamine afforded the corresponding allyl-norcantharimide (20) which was amenable to epoxidation (mCPBA, 22) and subsequent ring opening (MeOH/H(+); 23) or alternatively, osmylation (OsO(4)/NMO; 24). These simple synthetic modifications of 2 facilitated the development of a novel series of norcantharimides displaying modest to good broad spectrum cytotoxicity against HT29 and SW480 (colorectal carcinoma); MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma); A2780 (ovarian carcinoma); H460 (lung carcinoma); A431 (epidermoid carcinoma); DU145 (prostate carcinoma); BE2-C (neuroblastoma); and SJ-G2 (glioblastoma). Analogues possessing a C(10), C(12) or C(14) alkyl chain or a C(12) linked bis-norcantharimide displayed the highest levels of cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis of imidazole-containing analogues of farnesyl pyrophosphate and evaluation of their biological activity on protein farnesyltransferase

With the aim of creating new bisubstrate inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase (FTase), new carboxylic farnesyl pyrophosphate analogues have been designed and synthesized. The original structures are built around three elements: a prenyl moiety, a 1,4-diacid motif and an imidazole ring. All the compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit FTase and compared with the corresponding derivatives lacking the imidazole ring, synthesized for that purpose. These new compounds are not bisubstrate inhibitors probably because the imidazole ring is not in the right position to interact with the zinc atom. However these derivatives display FPP competitive inhibition with a good activity in the carboxylic farnesyl pyrophosphate analogues series.     

Synthesis of guanidino analogues of PMPDAP and their immunobiological activity

A series of novel 9-, 7- and 3-substituted 2- or 6-guanidinopurines as analogues of potent antiviral and immunobiologically active compound enantiomers of PMPDAP was synthesized and evaluated for their biological activity. Compounds containing the combination of guanidino and amino group at the purine moiety enhanced the interferon-gamma-triggered NO production in murine macrophages and stimulated the secretion of cytokines and chemokines in both murine macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The most active compounds are 27 and 54. None of the compounds tested exhibited any significant cytostatic effect or antiviral effect.     

Synthesis of selenium-containing amino acid analogues and their biological study

Synthesis of selenium-containing amino acid analogues is described. These compounds were prepared in a concise and short synthetic route in good yields by nucleophilic substitution reaction of pyridineselenol and quinolineselenol derivatives with N-phthaloylglycyl chloride followed by hydrazinolysis. The newly synthesized compounds were screened against different strains of bacteria and fungi.     

Synthesis of iminoalditol analogues of galactofuranosides and their activities against glycosidases

Iminoalditol analogues of galactofuranosides were synthesized from 1-C-(2′-oxo-propyl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-galactosides and different amines by reductive amination, followed by removal of protecting groups. The activity of these compounds against galactosidases and other glycosidases was investigated. The best inhibitor against β-galactosidase (bovine liver) is a diastereomeric mixture of an iminoalditol (10h), which contains a hydrophobic hexadecyl aglycon (R = C₁₆H₃₃), whereas no significant inhibitory activity was observed with compounds having a hydrophilic aglycon. Surprisingly, activation of α-galactosidase (coffee bean) by 10h was also observed. Because these results were obtained from a mixture of iminoalditols, the inhibition and activation of glycosidases could result from different diastereomers.     

Antiviral agents 2. Synthesis of trimeric naphthoquinone analogues of conocurvone and their antiviral evaluation against HIV

The synthesis of a new series of conocurvone analogues is presented that explores the importance of the pyran rings of conocurvone, their degree of unsaturation as well as the role of alkoxy functionalities as pyran ring replacements, for the inhibition of the HIV-1 integrase (IN) enzyme. Difficulties in synthesising a trimeric naphthoquinone where the central quinone bears a peri-dihydropyran ring was attributed to distortion of the electrophilic dihaloquinone successfully utilised in the past. Increased electron density could also be a factor in reducing reactivity. The desired central dihydropyran bearing trimeric naphthoquinone was successfully synthesised by using a more reactive bromo-tosyloxyquinone intermediate. A maleimide derivative, where the central quinone between the pendant hydroxyquinones was replaced, was successfully synthesised and although it exhibited comparable enzyme inhibitory activity it had negligible HIV inhibitory cellular activity. Compounds were assessed for activity in both in vitro assays using purified recombinant HIV-1 IN and demonstrated superior or comparable activity to conocurvone derivatives previously reported.     

Senolytic activity of piperlongumine analogues: Synthesis and biological evaluation

Selective clearance of senescent cells (SCs) has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for age-related diseases, as well as chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced adverse effects. Through a cell-based phenotypic screening approach, we recently identified piperlongumine (PL), a dietary natural product, as a novel senolytic agent, referring to small molecules that can selectively kill SCs over normal or non-senescent cells. In an effort to establish the structure-senolytic activity relationships of PL analogues, we performed a series of structural modifications on the trimethoxyphenyl and the α,β-unsaturated δ-valerolactam rings of PL. We show that modifications on the trimethoxyphenyl ring are well tolerated, while the Michael acceptor on the lactam ring is critical for the senolytic activity. Replacing the endocyclic C2–C3 olefin with an exocyclic methylene at C2 render PL analogues 47–49 with increased senolytic activity. These α-methylene containing analogues are also more potent than PL in inducing ROS production in WI-38 SCs. Similar to PL, 47–49 reduce the protein levels of oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1), an important oxidative stress response protein that regulates the expression of a variety of antioxidant enzymes, in cells. This study represents a useful starting point toward the discovery of senolytic agents for therapeutic uses.     

Synthesis of phosphorothioate analogues of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and their antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate analogues of oligodeoxynucleotides (oligos) were synthesized by sulfurization of either internucleoside phosphite linkages, in a repetitive manner during chain extension, or internucleoside hydrogen phosphonate linkages, in a single step following chain assembly. These analogues were tested as antiviral agents against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In a cytopathic effect inhibition assay using HIV-uninfected susceptible T cells (tetanus toxoid-specific normal T cells) co-cultured with irradiated chronically HIV-infected cells, phosphorothioate oligomers inhibited the cytopathic effect and replication of several isolates of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Thus phosphorothioate analogues of oligos could inhibit cell-to-cell transmission of the virus as well as the infection by cell-free virus particles and also could inhibit a variety of isolates of human retroviruses.     

Synthesis of phenserine analogues and evaluation of their cholinesterase inhibitory activities

Phenserine is a potentially attractive drug for Alzheimer's disease. In order to further expand SAR study for inhibitions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), the methyl group at the 3a-position of phenserine was replaced with an alkyl or alkenyl group, and its phenylcarbamoyl moiety was substituted at the o- or p-position. The synthetic methodology for these phenserine analogues includes the efficient cascade reactions for introduction of the 3a-substituent and assembly of the quaternary carbon center followed by reductive cyclization to the key pyrroloindoline structure. The bulkiness of the substituent at 3a-position of phenserine derivatives tends to reduce the inhibitory effect on AChE activity in the following order: methyl>ethyl>vinyl>propyl≈allyl>reverse-prenyl groups. Among the series synthesized, the 3a-ethyl derivative demonstrated the highest AChE selectivity. In construct, the 3a-reverse-prenyl derivative indicated modest BuChE selectivity.     

Green synthesis of tetrahydropyrimidine analogues and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity

It is the first report of 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidines derivatives, catalyzed by ZrOCl₂. The mild reaction conditions, excellent yields in shorter reaction time and evasion of cumbersome workup procedures make this process economically lucrative for industrial application. The novelty and highlight of the present method is the promising antibacterial and antifungal activity shown by compounds (4a, 4b, 4e, 4f, 4h and 4l) compared to standard.