Abstract
Semi-synthetic triterpenoids, holding an amino substituted seven-membered A-ring (azepano-ring), which could be synthesized from triterpenic oximes through a Beckmann type rearrangement followed by a reduction of lactame fragment, are considered to be novel promising agents exhibiting anti-microbial, alpha-glucosidase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this study, in an attempt to develop new antitumor candidates, a series of A-ring azepano- and 3-amino-3,4-seco-derivatives of betulin, oleanolic, ursolic, and glycyrrhetinic acids were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines and non-malignant mouse fibroblasts by means of a colorimetric sulforhodamine assay. Azepanoallobetulinic acid amide derivative 11 was the most cytotoxic compound of this series but showed little selectivity between the different human tumor cell lines. Flow cytometry experiments showed compound 11 to act mainly by apoptosis (44.3%) and late apoptosis (21.4%). The compounds were further screened at the National Cancer Institute towards a panel of 60 cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 20 showed growth inhibitory (GI50) against the most sensitive cell lines at submicromolar concentrations (0.20–0.94 μM), and their cytotoxic activity (LC50) was also high (1–6 μM). Derivatives 3, 8, 11, 15, and 16 demonstrated a certain selectivity profile at GI50 level from 5.16 to 9.56 towards K-562, CCRF-CEM, HL-60(TB), and RPMI-8226 (Leukemia), HT29 (Colon cancer), and OVCAR-4 (Ovarian cancer) cell lines. Selectivity indexes of azepanoerythrodiol 3 at TGI level ranged from 5.93 (CNS cancer cell lines SF-539, SNB-19 and SNB-75) to 14.89 for HCT-116 (colon cancer) with SI 9.56 at GI50 level for the leukemia cell line K-562. The present study highlighted the importance of A-azepano-ring in the triterpenic core for the development of novel antitumor agents, and a future aim to increase the selectivity profile will thus lie in the area of modifications of azepano-triterpenic acids at their carboxyl group.
Highlights
Demographic changes such as the growth of the world population combined with an increase in life expectancy led to an increasing number of patients suffering from oncological diseases
There is an urgent need of novel antitumor agents acting by novel modes of action
A promising strategy is to generate new antitumor agents from natural products. This seems interesting for two reasons: On the one hand, pharmaceuticals derived from natural substances have already proven to be very effective in many cases [2], and on the other hand, this strategy results in sustainability in the sense of a green, ecologically oriented chemistry
Summary
Demographic changes such as the growth of the world population combined with an increase in life expectancy led to an increasing number of patients suffering from oncological diseases. Cancer is a one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the number of new cases of diseases caused by cancer is expected to rise by about 70%. A promising strategy is to generate new antitumor agents from natural products. This seems interesting for two reasons: On the one hand, pharmaceuticals derived from natural substances have already proven to be very effective in many cases [2], and on the other hand, this strategy results in sustainability in the sense of a green, ecologically oriented chemistry
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