Cytotoxic clerodane diterpenes from Polyalthia barnesii.

Three cytotoxic clerodane diterpenes were purified from an ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the stem bark of Polyalthia barnesii, namely, 16 alpha-hydroxycleroda-3,13(14)Z-dien-15,16-olide, a known compound, and two novel compounds, 3 beta, 16 alpha-dihydroxycleroda-4(18),13(14)Z-dien-15,16-olide and 4 beta, 16 alpha-dihydroxyclerod-13(14)Z-en-15,16-olide. These compounds were found to exhibit broad cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic ent-kaurene diterpenoids from three Isodon species.

From Isodon loxothyrsa, one new diterpenoid, loxothyrin A, together with one known diterpenoid, adenolin B, from I.pleiophyllus, three known diterpenoids, coetsoidins A, B and G, and from I. adenoloma, one known diterpenoid, longikaurin F, were isolated. The structure determination of loxothyrin A, and the unambiguous NMR spectral assignments of the known compounds were made by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and computer modelling calculations. The isolates showed potent cytotoxic activities.

Lycorine alkaloids from Hymenocallis littoralis.

From Hymenocallis littoralis, one new alkaloid, named littoraline, together with 13 known lycorine alkaloids and one lignan, were isolated. The structure and NMR assignments of this new alkaloid were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Littoraline showed inhibitory activity of HIV reverse transcriptase, and lycorine and haemanthamine showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity.

Cytotoxic prenylated flavanones from Monotes engleri.

From the leaves of Monotes engleri, five prenylated flavanones were isolated as constituents that displayed cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines. There of these substances are novel, namely, 6-(1,1-dimethylallyl)naringenin, 6-(1,1-dimethylallyl)eriodictyol and 3'-O-methyl-6-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-eriodictyol, with the other two active substances being the known flavanones, 6,8-diprenyleriodictyol and hiravanone. Additionally, two novel, but non-cytotoxic, biogenetically related flavanones were isolated, 6-[(2RS)-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl]-8-prenyleriodictyol and 5,4'-dihydroxy-4",4"-dimethyl-5"-methyl-5"H-dihydrofurano[2",3": 6,7]flavanone. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectral analysis 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments.

Diterpenes from the berries of Juniperus excelsa.

From the hexane extract of berries of Juniperus excelsa, one new and four known diterpenes were isolated besides a known sesquiterpene. The structures of the known diterpenes were identified as isopimaric, isocommunic, (-)ent-trans communic and sandracopimaric acids, along with the sesquiterpene 4a-hydroxycedrol and the new compound which was elucidated as 3 alpha-acetoxylabda-8(17),13(16),14-trien-19-oic acid (juniperexcelsic acid). Cytotoxic activity of the hexane extract was investigated against a panel of cell line and found highly active against LNCaP, KB-V (+VLB) and KB-V (-VLB) cell lines. Furthermore, the hexane and methanol extracts, and the new compound were found to be moderately active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Alkyl phenols and derivatives from Tapirira obtusa.

From the bark of Tapiria obtusa, six alkyl phenol derivatives were isolated: 1-hydroxy-3-[(Z)-7'-nonadecenyl]-benzene, 1-hydroxy-3-[(Z)-7'-heptadecenyl]-benzene, 1-hydroxy-3-[14'-phenyltetradecyl]-benzene, and 1-hydroxy-3-[16'-phenyltetradecyl]-benzene, and their possible biogenetic precursors, 1-(16'-phenyl-12'Z-hexadecenyl)-4-Z-cyclohexene-(1S*,3S*)-diol and (4S*,6S*)-dihydroxy-6-(14'Z-nonadecenyl)-2-cyclohexenone. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analysis, (4S*,6S*)-Dihydroxy-6-(14'Z-nonadecenyl)-2-cyclohexenone showed cytotoxic activity.

Cell-cycle specific cytotoxicity mediated by rearranged ent-kaurene diterpenoids isolated from Parinari curatellifolia.

Two structurally novel cytotoxic ent-kaurene diterpenoids, 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin and 13-hydroxy-15-oxozoapatlin, were isolated from the root bark of Parinari curatellifolia, together with the known compound, 15-oxozoapatlin, on the basis of bioactivity-guided chromatographic fractionation and found to demonstrate broad-spectrum cytotoxic activity against a panel of cultured human cancer cell lines. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. The presence of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl group in 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin suggested that the cytotoxic potential of this compound could be mediated through reaction with cellular nucleophiles by means of a Michael-type addition. The compound 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin reacted with the nucleophiles L-cysteine and beta-mercaptoethanol. The adduct with beta-mercaptoethanol was isolated, structurally characterized and found to be approximately 5-fold less cytotoxic than 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin itself. The compound 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin did not interact with DNA nor guanosine, and it was not mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677. The effects of 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin on the growth of human cancer cells were analyzed utilizing cultured ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells. Biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and protein was reduced in treated cells, and accumulation at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle was observed. The compound 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin did not mediate antimitotic activity with dibutyryl cAMP-treated cultured astrocytoma cells, suggesting that the cell cycle effect is G2 specific. No antitumor activity was observed when athymic mice carrying KB cells were treated with 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin. These data indicate that the cytotoxic activity of 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin is mediated in part by covalent reaction with a cellular component (such as sulfhydryl-containing protein) by means of a Michael-type addition, and this results in the blockage of cell-cycle progression.

Triterpenoids of the roots of Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas.

The roots of Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas afforded eleven known triterpenes, two steroids and two aromatics, in addition to two new triterpenes, 18-hydroxy-27-norolean-12,14-dien-30-al-28-oic acid and 3 beta-hydroxy-1-oxo-olean-12-ene-30-al-28-oic acid. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The chloroform extract and some isolated compounds were evaluated for their growth inhibitory activity against several mammalian cell lines.

A mixed micellar formulation suitable for the parenteral administration of taxol.

Taxol is a promising antitumor agent with poor water solubility. Intravenous administration of a current taxol formulation in a non-aqueous vehicle containing Cremophor EL may cause allergic reactions and precipitation upon aqueous dilution. In this study a novel approach to formulate taxol in aqueous medium for i.v. delivery is described. The drug is solubilized in bile salt (BS)/phospholipid (PC) mixed micelles. The solubilization potential of the mixed micelles increased as the total lipid concentration and the molar ratio of PC/BS increased. Precipitation of the drug upon dilution was avoided by the spontaneous formation of drug-loaded liposomes from mixed micelles. The formulation can be stored in a freeze-dried form as mixed micelles to achieve optimum stability, and liposomes can be prepared by simple dilution just before administration. As judged by a panel of cultured cell lines, the cytotoxic activity of taxol was retained when formulated as a mixed-micellar solution. Further, for the same solubilization potential, the mixed-micellar vehicle appeared to be less toxic than the standard nonaqueous vehicle of taxol containing Cremophor EL.

Preparation of amino acid conjugates of betulinic acid with activity against human melanoma.

Betulinic acid has been coupled with a series of amino acids at C-28 carboxylic acid position and the toxicity of the derivatives has been evaluated against cultured human melanoma (MEL-2) and human epidermoid carcinoma of the mouth (KB) cell lines. A number of amino acid conjugates of betulinic acid showed improved water solubility as well as selective cytotoxicity. This investigation demonstrates that amino acid conjugates of betulinic acid can produce potentially important derivatives, which may be developed as antitumor agents.

Cardenolides from Nierembergia aristata.

The EtOAc extract of the whole plant of the Argentinian species Nierembergia aristata showed significant cytotoxicity against eleven different cancer cell lines. In addition to several known compounds, bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three new cardenolides, 17-epi-11 alpha-hydroxy-6, 7-dehydrostrophanthidin-3-O-beta-boivinopyranoside[1],6, 7-dehydrostrophanthidin-3-O-beta-boivinopyranoside [2], and 6,7-dehydrostrophanthidin-3-O-beta-oleandropyranoside[3], of which the latter demonstrated activity against all the cell lines tested. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of cardiac glycosides from a species in the Solanaceae.

Cytotoxic constituents of Baccharis gaudichaudiana.

Three new labdane diterpenes, gaudichaudols A-C [1-3], a new clerodane diterpenoid, gaudichaudone [4], and the known clerodane, articulin acetate [5] have been isolated from the aerial parts of Baccharis gaudichaudiana, together with the known compounds, apigenin, hispidulin, spathulenol, and ursolic acid. Through the application of 1D- and 2D nmr spectroscopy, the structures of the new diterpenoids [1-4] were, in turn; elucidated as 15,16,18,19-tetrahydroxylabd-5-ene, 15-O-acetyl-16,18,19-trihydroxylabd-5-ene, 16-O-p-trans-coumaroyl-15,18,19-trihydroxylabd-5-ene, and 2 beta-hydroxy-15,16-epoxycleroda-1(10),15,16-trien-18,19-olide++ +. The isolated compounds were evaluated in P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cells as well as a battery of human cancer cell lines. Among the diterpenoids, gaudichaudol C [3], gaudichaudone [4], and articulin acetate [5] exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against certain cancer cells.

Two new cytotoxic compounds from Tapirira guianensis.

Two new cytotoxic compounds, 2-[10(Z)-heptadecenyl]-1,4-hydroquinone (1) and (4R,6R)-dihydroxy-4-[10(Z)-heptadecenyl]-2-cyclohexenone (2) have been isolated from a MeOH extract of seeds of Tapirira guianensis. The structures were established through spectral analysis of the isolates and their derivatives.

5-(4-Hydroxyphenethenyl)-4,7-dimethoxycoumarin, a new constituent of Monotes engleri.

A new coumarin, 5-(4-hydroxyphenethenyl)-4,7-dimethoxycoumarin (1) was isolated from the combined ethyl acetate extracts of the root bark, root wood and stem bark of Monotes engleri, and found to be cytotoxic against two cell lines in a human tumor panel. Its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

1',2',3',4'-tetradehydrotubulosine, a cytotoxic alkaloid from Pogonopus speciosus.

Bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the stems of Pogonopus speciosus, using human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cells as a monitor, led to the isolation of a novel alkaloid, 1',2', 3',4'-tetradehydrotubulosine (1), along with tubulosine (2) and psychotrine (3) as bioactive constituents. The structure of the novel compound was elucidated through 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic methods. Alkaloids 1 and 3 showed weak cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines, with the potency of these compounds being markedly less than that of tubulosine (2).

Novel antimitotic dibenzocyclo-octadiene lignan constituents of the stem bark of Steganotaenia araliacea.

By means of activity-directed chromatographic fractionation using cultured astrocytoma (ASK) cells, six dibenzocyclo-octadiene lignans were isolated from Steganotaenia araliacea stem bark. In addition to the most abundant analogue, steganangin [1], two other known compounds, steganacin [3] and steganolide A [6], and three new compounds, episteganangin [2], steganoate A [4], and steganoate B [5], were obtained. Episteganangin [2] was chemically correlated with the known ketone steganone [7]. All of these compounds demonstrated cytotoxic activity when tested against a panel of eleven human tumor cell lines, with the exception of steganoate A [4]. The magnitude of this activity tended to correlate with antimitotic activity observed with the ASK assay and in vitro inhibition of microtubule assembly. Steganacin [3] was less cytotoxic than colchicine, but more active in these latter two assay systems.

Evaluation of selected lichens from iceland for cancer chemopreventive and cytotoxic activity.

Cancer chemopreventive effects of organic extracts from 29 species of lichens collected in Iceland were evaluated using a panel of in vitro bioassays whereby extracts were tested for potential to induce quinone reductase (QR) and differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells, inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), phorbol ester-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), aromatase and sulfatase, as well as for antioxidant, estrogenic/anti-estrogenic and antiproliferative activity. In addition, the extracts were tested for cytotoxicity against 12 cancer cell lines. The most significant results were exhibited by extracts from Xanthoria elegans and Alectoria nigricans , which respectively, induced QR activity (concentration to double activity = 4.8 µg/ml) and inhibited phorbol ester-induced ODC activity with mouse 308 cells in culture (IC 50 = 2.6 µg/ml). Moderate inhibition of [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation with HL-60 cells was exhibited by the Peltigera leucophlebia extract. Several extracts prevented estrogen formation from estrogen precursors by inhibiting the enzymatic activities of aromatase ( Sphaerophorus globosus , Cetrariella delisei , Melanelia hepatizon ) and sulfatase ( Cladonia gracilis , Sphaerophorus fragilis , S. globosus ). None of the extracts demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects with selected cell lines.

Cytotoxic polyacetylenes from the twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea.

Bioassay-guided investigation of the twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea using LNCaP (hormone-dependent human prostate cancer) cells as a monitor led to the isolation of three alkynes, the known (S)-17-hydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (minquartynoic acid, 1) and two novel analogues, (S)-17,18-dihydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (2) and (S)-17-hydroxy-15E-octadecen-9,11,13-triynoic acid (3). Compounds 1-3 were tested against a panel of human tumor cell lines and found to be significantly cytotoxic.

Lupane derivatives from Lophopetalum wallichii with farnesyl protein transferase inhibitory activity.

Chloroform-soluble extracts of the stems and of the mixed stems and stem bark of Lophopetalum wallichii were found to be inhibitory in a farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) bioassay system. During the course of activity-guided fractionation, the known lupane-type triterpenes, ochraceolide A (1), ochraceolide B (2), betulin, and lupeol and the new lupane lactone, dihydro ochraceolide A (4), were isolated. The stereochemistry of the epoxide group of ochraceolide B (2) was determined by preparation of both epoxide isomers [2, and the new semisynthetic derivative, 20-epi-ochraceolide B (3)] from 1. The structure of 4 was established by reduction of 1 with sodium borohydride. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant inhibitory activity in the FPTase assay (IC50 values of 1.0 and 0.7 microgram/mL, respectively). Lupeol was found to be weakly active (IC50 65.0 micrograms/mL) in this test system, whereas no significant inhibition was detected for betulin or compounds 3 or 4. When evaluated against a panel of human cancer cells in culture, compounds 1 and 4 were modestly cytotoxic. Compounds 2 and 3 were not active in the panel.

Cytotoxic constituents of the roots of Ekmanianthe longiflora.

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the CHCl(3) extract of the roots of Ekmanianthe longiflora resulted in the isolation of three new natural products, (2R,3R,4R)-3,4-dihydro-3, 4-dihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1(2H)-naphthalenone (1), (2S,3R, 4R)-3,4-dihydro-3, 4-dihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1(2H)-naphthalenone (2), and (2R, 3aR,9R,9aR)-9-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2,3,3a,4,9 , 9a-hexahydro-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4-one (3), together with the known compounds 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-quinone (4), 2-acetylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-quinone (5), dehydro-iso-alpha-lapachone (6), alpha-lapachone (7), catalponol, and epi-catalponol. The structures of 1-3 were determined using a combination of NMR spectroscopic techniques, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were obtained using Mosher ester methodology. Compounds 4-6 showed significant cytotoxicity in a panel of human cancer cells. alpha-Lapachone (7) exhibited only marginal activity, and catalponol and epi-catalponol were inactive in this regard. When tested at 72 mg/kg/injection in an in vivo mouse P-388 leukemia system, compound 4 was inactive (110% T/C).