Steroidal glycosides from Ornithogalum thyrsoides bulbs and their cytotoxicity toward HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells and SBC-3 human small-cell lung cancer cells.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jacq belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is cultivated for ornamental purposes. The authors have previously reported several cholestane- and spirostan-type steroidal glycosides from O. thyrsoides. Conventional TLC analysis of the methanolic bulb extract of O. thyrsoides suggested the presence of unprecedented compounds; therefore, a detailed phytochemical investigation of the extract was performed and 35 steroidal glycosides (1-35), including 21 previously undescribed ones (1-21) were collected. The structures of 1-21 were determined mainly by analyses of their 1H and 13C NMR spectra with the aid of two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The isolated compounds were classified into three distinct groups: furostan-type (1, 2, 8-12, and 22), spirostan-type (3-7 and 23-26), and cholestane-type (13-21 and 27-35). Although the C/D-ring junction of the steroidal skeleton is typically trans-oriented, except for some cardiotonic and pregnane-type steroidal derivatives, 7 possess a cis C/D-ring junction. This is the first reported instance of such a configuration in spirostan-type steroidal derivatives, marking it as a finding of significant interest. Compounds 1-35 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells and SBC-3 human small-cell lung cancer cells. Compounds 3-6, 9, 17-21, 23-25, and 30-35 demonstrated cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values ranging from 0.000086 to 18 µM and from 0.00014 to 37 µM toward HL-60 and SBC-3 cells, respectively. Compound 19, which is obtained in a good yield and shows relatively potent cytotoxicity among the undescribed compounds, induces apoptosis in HL-60 cells, accompanied by arresting the cell cycle of HL-60 cells at the G2/M phase. In contrast, 19 causes oxidative stress-associated necrosis in SBC-3 cells. The cytotoxic mechanism of 19 is different between HL-60 and SBC-3 cells.

Novel Synthesis of IMC-48 and Affinity Evaluation with Different i-Motif DNA Sequences.

During the last decade, the evidence for the biological relevance of i-motif DNA (i-DNA) has been accumulated. However, relatively few molecules were reported to interact with i-DNA, and a controversy concerning their binding mode, affinity, and selectivity persists in the literature. In this context, the cholestane derivative IMC-48 has been reported to modulate bcl-2 gene expression by stabilizing an i-motif structure in its promoter. In the present contribution, we report on a novel, more straightforward, synthesis of IMC-48 requiring fewer steps compared to the previous approach. Furthermore, the interaction of IMC-48 with four different i-motif DNA sequences was thoroughly investigated by bio-layer interferometry (BLI) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Surprisingly, our results show that IMC-48 is a very weak ligand of i-DNA as no quantifiable interaction or significant stabilization of i-motif structures could be observed, stimulating a quest for an alternative mechanism of its biological activity.

From Marine Metabolites to the Drugs of the Future: Squalamine, Trodusquemine, Their Steroid and Triterpene Analogues.

This review comprehensively describes the recent advances in the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of steroid polyamines squalamine, trodusquemine, ceragenins, claramine, and their diverse analogs and derivatives, with a special focus on their complete synthesis from cholic acids, as well as an antibacterial and antiviral, neuroprotective, antiangiogenic, antitumor, antiobesity and weight-loss activity, antiatherogenic, regenerative, and anxiolytic properties. Trodusquemine is the most-studied small-molecule allosteric PTP1B inhibitor. The discovery of squalamine as the first representative of a previously unknown class of natural antibiotics of animal origin stimulated extensive research of terpenoids (especially triterpenoids) comprising polyamine fragments. During the last decade, this new class of biologically active semisynthetic natural product derivatives demonstrated the possibility to form supramolecular networks, which opens up many possibilities for the use of such structures for drug delivery systems in serum or other body fluids.

A Total of Eight Novel Steroidal Glycosides Based on Spirostan, Furostan, Pseudofurostan, and Cholestane from the Leaves of Cestrum newellii.

Previously, various steroidal glycosides were reported from plants of Cestrum species. However, phytochemical investigation has not been conducted on Cestrum newellii. A systematic phytochemical investigation of the leaves of C. newellii resulted in the isolation of eight novel steroidal glycosides (1-8), which were classified into three spirostanol glycosides (1-3), two furostanol glycosides (4 and 5), two pseudofurostanol glycosides (6 and 7), and one cholestane glycoside (8). In addition, three known cholestane glycosides (9-11) were isolated and identified. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data and chemical transformations. Compounds 1 and 2 are spirostanol glycosides having hydroxy groups at C-2, C-3, C-12, and C-24 of the aglycone moiety. Although C. newellii is known to be a poisonous plant, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay exhibited that none of the isolated compounds were cytotoxic to HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Role of the cholesterol hydroxyl group in the chemical exchange saturation transfer signal at -1.6 ppm.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) can provide metabolite-weighted images in the clinical setting; therefore, understanding the origin of each CEST signal is essential to revealing the changes in diseases at the molecular level, which would provide further insight for diagnoses and treatments. The CEST signal at -1.6 ppm is attributed to the choline methyl group of phosphatidylcholines. The methyl groups have no exchangeable protons, so the corresponding CEST signals must result from the relayed nuclear Overhauser effect (rNOE); however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Cholesterol is a major component of biological membranes, and its content is closely related to the dynamics and phases of these lipids. However, cholesterol has a hydroxyl group, which could participate in proton exchange to complete the rNOE process. In this study, we used liposomes containing cholesterol and its analogs (5α-cholestane and progesterone), which presumably have similar capabilities of influencing lipid bilayers, and found that the steroid hydroxyl group is the key to inducing the rNOE at -1.6 ppm. Our results suggest that the origin of the rNOE at -1.6 ppm likely requires an intermolecular NOE between the proton of the choline methyl group and that of the cholesterol hydroxyl group, and a chemical exchange between the cholesterol hydroxyl group and bulk water. However, the phenomenon in which the rNOE at -1.6 ppm appears when the cholesterol concentration is high seems to contradict the in vivo results, suggesting a more complicated mechanism associated with the rNOE at -1.6 ppm in biological membranes.

Galtonosides A-E: Antiproliferative and Antiplasmodial Cholestane Glycosides from Galtonia regalis.

An extract of Galtonia regalis from the Natural Products Discovery Institute showed moderate antiplasmodial activity, with an IC50 value less than 1.25 µg/mL. The two known cholestane glycosides 1 and 2 and the five new cholestane glycosides galtonosides A-E (3-7) were isolated after bioassay-directed fractionation. The structures of the new compounds were determined by interpretation of their NMR and mass spectra. Among these compounds, galtonoside B (4) displayed the most potent antiplasmodial activity, with an IC50 value of 0.214 µM against the drug-resistant Dd2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum.

3ß, 6ß-dichloro-5-hydroxy-5α-cholestane facilitates neuronal development through modulating TrkA signaling regulated proteins in primary hippocampal neuron.

Potentiating neuritogenesis through pharmacological intervention might hold therapeutic promise in neurodegenerative disorders and acute brain injury. Here, we investigated the novel neuritogenic potentials of a steroidal chlorohydrin, 3ß, 6ß-dichloro-5-hydroxy-5α-cholestane (hereafter, SCH) and the change in cellular proteome to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of its neurotrophic activity in hippocampal neurons. Morphometric analysis showed that SCH promoted early neuronal differentiation, dendritic arborization and axonal maturation. Proteomic and bioinformatic analysis revealed that SCH induced upregulation of several proteins, including those associated with neuronal differentiation and development. Immunocytochemical data further indicates that SCH-treated neurons showed upregulation of Hnrnpa2b1 and Map1b, validating their proteomic profiles. In addition, a protein-protein interaction network analysis identified TrkA as a potential target connecting most of the upregulated proteins. The neurite outgrowth effect of SCH was suppressed by TrkA inhibitor, GW441756, verifying TrkA-dependent activity of SCH, which further supports the connection of TrkA with the upregulated proteins. Also, the computational analysis revealed that SCH interacts with the NGF-binding domain of TrkA through Phe327 and Asn355. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that SCH promotes neuronal development via upregulating TrkA-signaling proteins and suggest that SCH could be a promising therapeutic agent in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Structure and bioactivity of cholestane glycosides from the bulbs of Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker.

Eight undescribed cholestane glycosides named osaundersioside A-H, along with three previously known compounds named osaundersioside I-K were isolated from Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker bulbs (Asparagaceae). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. All isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity and inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Osaundersioside C was thus determined to exhibit specific cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of 0.20 µM, Osaundersioside H exhibited inhibitory effect on NO production in macrophages at the concentration of 10-5 M, with inhibition rate of 56.81%.

22-Oxocholestane oximes as potential anti-inflammatory drug candidates.

22-Oxocholestanes bearing the oxime functionality in the side chain have been synthesized from diosgenin and evaluated in vivo as anti-inflammatory agents in an acute inflammation mouse ear model, against the commercial glucocorticoid dexamethasone. The final compounds were all regioselectively obtained with an E configuration at the oxime double bond. The title compounds reduced ear-induced inflammation and edema. The most active oximes repressed the expression of proinflammatory genes TNF-α, COX-2, and IL-6; including macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Overall, our data suggest that 22-oxocholestane oximes exert a strong in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Cholestanoheterocyclic Steroids as Anticancer Agents.

Modification of steroid molecules by introducing heterocyclic ring into the core structure of steroids has been utilized as an attractive approach for either cancer prognosis or diagnosis. Several new cholestanoheterocyclic steroids were synthesized, and analytical and spectral data proved the validity of the novel synthesized steroid derivatives. The cytotoxicity of synthesized compounds 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15b, and 16b was evaluated using human colorectal cancer HCT 116 and Caco-2, cervical cancer HeLa, hepatoma HepG2, and breast cancer MCF7 cell lines. Intriguingly, compound 13 has the highest cytotoxic effect when applied on the majority of cancer cells. In conclusion, compound 13 may be considered as a promising anticancer candidate against all cancer cell lines, because it recorded the lowest IC50 of the majority of the cancer cell lines used. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was employed to determine the binding modes against aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and B-cell lymphoma (BCL-2) proteins, which are major proteins involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. Molecular docking analyses revealed that compounds 13, 3, and 5 (free energy of binding = - 9.2, - 9.1, and - 9.0 kcal/mol, respectively) were the best docked ligand against aromatase CYP19; compounds 16b, 3, 9, and 10 (free energy of binding = - 9.6, - 9.3, and - 9.2 kcal/mol, respectively) were the best docked ligand against CDK2, while compounds 15b, 16b, and 13 (free energy of binding = - 9.1, - 9.0, and- 8.7 kcal/mol, respectively) were the best docked ligand against BCL2. In conclusion, compounds 3, 13, and 16b were the most promising compounds with the lowest IC50s against most of the tested cancer cell lines, and they displayed the lowest binding energies, critical hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions with the three molecular targets compared to other tested compounds.

Understanding the infrared and Raman spectra of ganoderic acid A: An experimental and DFT study.

Ganoderic Acids (GAs) are the major medicinal compounds in Ganoderma lucidum used as traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) is the first discovered ganoderic acids reported in the literature, which is also one of most abundant triterpenoids of Ganoderma lucidum. Especially, GAA has been extensively investigated in recent decades for its positive medicinal activities. However, the vibrational properties of GAs have rarely been studied or reported. In this work, we focused on the typical GAA and studied the infrared (IR) and Raman spectra based on both experiments and DFT calculations. As such, we could not only achieve the assignments of the vibrational modes, but also from the IR and Raman spectra, we found that the spectral region from 1500 cm-1 to 1800 cm-1 is particularly useful for distinguishing different types of GAs. In addition, its dehydrogenated derivative ganoderenic acid A (GOA) was also studied, which could be identified due to its spectral feature of strong IR and Raman bands around 1620 cm-1. This work therefore may facilitate the application of IR and Raman spectroscopies in the inspection and quality control of Ganoderma lucidum.

Cholestane glycosides from Ornithogalum saundersiae bulbs and the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by OSW-1 through a mitochondrial-independent signaling pathway.

A search for cytotoxic cholestane glycosides from Ornithogalum saundersiae bulbs resulted in the isolation of three new OSW-1 analogues (1-3), a new cholestane bisdesmoside (4), a 5ß-cholestane diglycoside (5), and four new 24(23 → 22)-abeo-cholestane glycosides (6-9), together with 11 known cholestane glycosides (10-20), including OSW-1 (11). The structures of 1-9 were determined based on conventional spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence. As expected, based on previous data, 1-3 exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, the ability of OSW-1 to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells was examined. Aggregation of nuclear chromatin, accumulation of the sub-G1 cells, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 activation were assessed in HL-60 cells treated with OSW-1, providing evidence for OSW-1-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. No mitochondrial membrane potential or release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm were observed in the OSW-1-treated apoptotic HL-60 cells, indicating that a mitochondria-independent signaling pathway is involved in apoptotic cell death.

Steroid-Based Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Study: The Importance of Alkyl Spacers for Protein Stability.

Membrane proteins allow effective communication between cells and organelles and their external environments. Maintaining membrane protein stability in a non-native environment is the major bottleneck to their structural study. Detergents are widely used to extract membrane proteins from the membrane and to keep the extracted protein in a stable state for downstream characterisation. In this study, three sets of steroid-based amphiphiles-glyco-diosgenin analogues (GDNs) and steroid-based pentasaccharides either lacking a linker (SPSs) or containing a linker (SPS-Ls)-have been developed as new chemical tools for membrane protein research. These detergents were tested with three membrane proteins in order to characterise their ability to extract membrane proteins from the membrane and to stabilise membrane proteins long-term. Some of the detergents, particularly the SPS-Ls, displayed favourable behaviour with the tested membrane proteins. This result indicates the potential utility of these detergents as chemical tools for membrane protein structural study and a critical role of the simple alkyl spacer in determining detergent efficacy.

Claramines: A New Class Of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents With Bimodal Activity.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and pathogens has created an urgent need for the development of new antibiotics. Herein we report our investigations into the broad-spectrum activity of an easily prepared water-soluble polyaminosterol compound, namely claramine A1, against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains. We also report its peculiar mechanism of action, which differs from that of all the other well-known classes of antibiotics, toward Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Given their low cytotoxicity, this class of compounds based on claramine A1 could constitute an effective response to combat the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and nosocomial diseases.

Rational design of cholesterol oxidase for efficient bioresolution of cholestane skeleton substrates.

Cholesterol oxidase catalyzes the oxidation and isomerization of the cholestane substrates leading to the addition of a hydroxyl group at the C3 position. Rational engineering of the cholesterol oxidase from Pimelobacter simplex (PsChO) was performed. Mutagenesis of V64 and F70 improved the catalytic activities toward cholestane substrates. Molecular dynamics simulations, together with structure-activity relationship analysis, revealed that both V64C and F70V increased the binding free energy between PsChO mutants and cholesterol. F70V and V64C mutations might cause the movement of loops L56-P77, K45-P49 and L350-E354 at active site. They enlarged the substrate-binding cavity and relieved the steric interference with substrates facilitating recognition of C17 hydrophobic substrates with long side chain substrates.

Structural Characterization of Cholestane Rhamnosides from Ornithogalum saundersiae Bulbs and Their Cytotoxic Activity against Cultured Tumor Cells.

Previous phytochemical studies of the bulbs of Ornithogalum saundersiae, an ornamental perennial plant native to South Africa, resulted in the isolation of 29 new cholestane glycosides, some of which were structurally unique and showed potent cytotoxic activity against cultured tumor cell lines. Therefore, we aimed to perform further phytochemical examinations of methanolic extracts obtained from Ornithogalum saundersiae bulbs, isolating 12 new cholestane rhamnosides (1-12) and seven known compounds (13-19). The structures of the new compounds (1-12) were identified via NMR-based structural characterization methods, and through a sequence of chemical transformations followed by spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds (1-19) and the derivatives (1a and 6a) against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells was evaluated. Compounds 10-12, 16, and 17 showed cytotoxicity against both HL-60 and A549 cells. Compound 11 showed potent cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 0.16 µM against HL-60 cells and induced apoptotic cell death via a mitochondrion-independent pathway.

Lipid-Mediated Clusters of Guest Molecules in Model Membranes and Their Dissolving in the Presence of Lipid Rafts.

The clustering of molecules is an important feature of plasma membrane organization. It is challenging to develop methods for quantifying membrane heterogeneities because of their transient nature and small size. Here, we obtained evidence that transient membrane heterogeneities can be frozen at cryogenic temperatures which allows the application of solid-state experimental techniques sensitive to the nanoscale distance range. We employed the pulsed version of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the electron spin echo (ESE) technique, for spin-labeled molecules in multilamellar lipid bilayers. ESE decays were refined for pure contribution of spin-spin magnetic dipole-dipolar interaction between the labels; these interactions manifest themselves at a nanometer distance range. The bilayers were prepared from different types of saturated and unsaturated lipids and cholesterol (Chol); in all cases, a small amount of guest spin-labeled substances 5-doxyl-stearic-acid (5-DSA) or 3ß-doxyl-5α-cholestane (DChl) was added. The local concentration found of 5-DSA and DChl molecules was remarkably higher than the mean concentration in the bilayer, evidencing the formation of lipid-mediated clusters of these molecules. To our knowledge, formation of nanoscale clusters of guest amphiphilic molecules in biological membranes is a new phenomenon suggested only recently. Two-dimensional 5-DSA molecular clusters were found, whereas flat DChl molecules were found to be clustered into stacked one-dimensional structures. These clusters disappear when the Chol content is varied between the boundaries known for lipid raft formation at room temperatures. The room temperature EPR evidenced entrapping of DChl molecules in the rafts.

Homo-aro-cholestane, furostane and spirostane saponins from the tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus.

Phytochemical investigation of the tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus led to the isolation of five previously undescribed steroidal saponins, ophiojaponins A-E, together with twelve known ones. The structures of these isolated compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. Ophiojaponins A-C are rare naturally occurring C29 steroidal glycosides possessing a homo-cholestane skeleton with an aromatized ring E. Ruscogenin 1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-4-O-sulfo-ß-D-fucopyranosido-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside was isolated as single component and its full spectroscopic data was reported for the first time. The isolated steroidal saponins were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against two human tumor cell lines MG-63 and SNU387. Among them, five known spirostane-type glycosides showed cytotoxic activity against both MG-63 and SNU387 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.76 to 27.0 µM.

Polyhydroxylated sulfated steroids derived from 5α-cholestanes as antiviral agents against herpes simplex virus.

Twelve polyhydroxylated sulfated steroids synthesized from a 5α-cholestane skeleton with different substitutions in C-2, C-3 and C-6 were evaluated for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) by a virus plaque reduction assay. Four compounds elicited a selective inhibitory effect against HSV. The disodium salt of 2ß,3α-dihydroxy-6E-hydroximine-5α-cholestane-2,3-disulfate, named compound 7, was the most effective inhibitor of HSV-1, HSV-2 and pseudorabies virus (PrV) strains, including acyclovir-resistant variants, in human and monkey cell lines. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that compound 7 did not affect the initial steps of virus entry but inhibited a subsequent event in the infection process of HSV.

Structure activity relationship studies on cytotoxicity and the effects on steroid receptors of AB-functionalized cholestanes.

Structure-activity relationship analysis and profiling of a library of AB-functionalized cholestane derivatives closely related to brassinosteroids (BRs) were performed to examine their antiproliferative activities and activities on steroid hormone receptors. Some of the compounds were found to have strong cytotoxic activity in several human normal and cancer cell lines. The presence of a 3-hydroxy or 3-oxo group and 2,3-vicinal diol or 3,4-vicinal diol moiety were found to be necessary for optimum biological activity, as well as a six-membered B ring. According to the profiling of all steroid receptors in both agonist and antagonist mode, the majority of the cholestanes were weakly active or inactive compared to the natural ligands. Estrogenic activity was detected for two compounds, two compounds possessed antagonistic properties on estrogen receptors and seven compounds showed agonistic activity. Two active cholestane derivatives were shown to strongly influence cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and molecular pathways responsible for these processes in hormone-sensitive/insensitive (MCF7/MDA-MB-468) breast cancer cell lines.