Kostchyienones A and B, new antiplasmodial and cytotoxicity of limonoids from the roots of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms.

Two new limonoids, kostchyienones A (1) and B (2), along with 12 known compounds 3-14 were isolated from the roots of Pseudocedrela kostchyi. Compound (7) was isolated for the first time from a natural source. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Compounds 1-6 and 13-14 gave IC50 values ranging from 0.75 to 5.62 µg/mL for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (Pf3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (PfINDO) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Compound 5 showed moderate potential cytotoxicity against the HEK239T cell line with an IC50 value of 22.2±0.89 µg/mL. The antiplasmodial efficacy of the isolated compounds supports the medicinal value of this plant and its potential to provide novel antimalarial drugs.

Bioactive Seco-Lanostane-Type Triterpenoids from the Roots of Leplaea mayombensis.

Fractionation of the ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the roots of Leplaea mayombensis afforded two new 3,4-seco-lanostane-type triterpenoids, leplaeric acids A and B (1, 2), the new lanostane-type triterpenoid leplaeric acid C (3), and six known natural products (5-10). Derivatization of the main constituent, 1, afforded the dimethyl ester 4, the monoamide 11, and diamide 12 for SAR studies. The structures of these compounds were established through spectroscopic methods, and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to confirm the relative configuration of compound 1. These lanostane derivatives are unique since they are the first C-21-oxygenated lanostanes isolated from plant sources. Preliminary biological assays against the MDA MB 231 breast cancer cell line showed that compounds 1, 2, 4, and 11 have modest cytotoxic activity. Compound 2 was the most active, with an IC50 of 55 ± 7 µM. From these results, the amides (11, 12) derived from triterpenoid 1 were found to be less active than the derived esters (2, 4).

A mechanistic study on the Hooker oxidation: synthesis of novel indane carboxylic acid derivatives from lapachol.

The Hooker oxidation is one of the most intriguing transformations wherein lapachol (1) is readily converted to norlapachol (2) in very good yield. This one-pot reaction involves a very intricate mechanism in which the alkyl side chain of lapachol is shortened by one carbon unit. Previous studies have unequivocally established the involvement of an indane carboxylic acid derivative 3, as a key intermediate (Hooker intermediate), and its simultaneous conversion to norlapachol (2) via the oxidative cleavage of vicinol diol and subsequent intramolecular aldol reaction of the resulting keto acid. However, the formation of the key Hooker intermediate 3 from lapachol (1) remains ambiguous. The present study has thrown some light on the formation of the key intermediate 3 from lapachol (1) via benzilic acid rearrangement of the corresponding labile o-diquinone intermediate 8 derived from lapachol. The involvement of o-diquinone intermediate 8 in the Hooker oxidation has been further established by trapping of this labile intermediate as the corresponding phenazine derivative 9. The involvement of benzilic acid rearrangement as a key step in the Hooker oxidation is further shown with a variety of o-quinones prepared from lapachol (1).

Trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activity of six limonoids.

Six limonoids [kotschyienone A and B (1, 2), 7-deacetylgedunin (3), 7-deacetyl-7-oxogedunin (4), andirobin (5) and methyl angolensate (6)] were investigated for their trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activities using bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei and promastigotes of Leishmania major. Whereas all compounds showed anti-trypanosomal activity, only compounds 1-4 displayed anti-leishmanial activity. The 50% growth inhibition (GI50) values for the trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activity of the compounds ranged between 2.5 and 14.9 µM. Kotschyienone A (1) was found to be the most active compound with a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) value of 10 µM and GI50 values between 2.5 and 2.9 µM. Only compounds 1 and 3 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells with MIC and GI50 values of 100 µM and 31.5-46.2 µM, respectively. Compound 1 was also found to show activity against intracellular amastigotes of L. major with a GI50 value of 1.5 µM. The results suggest that limonoids have potential as drug candidates for the development of new treatments against trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Semisynthesis and antitumoral activity of 2-acetylfuranonaphthoquinone and other naphthoquinone derivatives from lapachol.

Ozonolysis of lapachol (1), resulting in an unusual formation of a potent antitumor agent 2-acetylfuranonaphthoquinone (3) along with the expected aldehyde 6, is described. The reaction of lapachol (1) with CAN in dry acetonitrile leading to biologically active furanonaphthoquinones is also reported. The antitumoral activity of the tested compounds on human DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells was evaluated following XTT assay. The results revealed that 2-(1-methylethenyl)-2,3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (5), beta-lapachone (10) and dehydro-beta-lapachone diacetate (11) showed 100% inhibition at 25 microg/ml. All the tested samples showed dose-dependent activity.

Diterpenoids from the stem bark of Croton zambesicus.

Three clerodane diterpenoids, crotozambefurans A, B and C were isolated from the stem bark of Croton zambesicus together with the known clerodane crotocorylifuran and two trachylobanes: 7 beta-acetoxytrachyloban-18-oic acid and trachyloban-7 beta, 18-diol. Betulinol, lupeol, sitosterol and its 3 beta-glucopyranosyl derivative were also obtained. The structures of crotozambefurans A, B and C were determined, respectively, as: 15,16-epoxy-1,3,13(16),14-clerodatetraen-20,12-olide-18,19-dioic acid dimethylester, 15,16-epoxy-1,3,13(16),14-clerodatetraen-18,19,20-trioic acid trimethylester and 15,16-epoxy-3,13(16),14-clerodatrien-19,1 alpha:20,12-diolide-18-oic acid methylester, using spectroscopic analysis, especially, NMR spectra in conjunction with 2D experiments, COSY, HSQC, HMBC and TOCSY.

Diprenylated chalcones and other constituents from the twigs of Dorstenia barteri var. subtriangularis.

The twigs of Dorstenia barteri var. subtriangularis yielded three diprenylated chalcones: (-)-3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5'-(2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)-4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone, (+)-3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-4',5'-[2'''-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone and 3,4-(6",6"-dimethyldihydropyrano)-4',5'-[2''',-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-2'-hydroxychalcone for which the names bartericins A, B and C, respectively, are proposed. Stipulin, beta-sitosterol and its 3-beta-D-glucopyranosyl derivative were also isolated. The structures of these secondary metabolites were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially, NMR spectra in conjunction with 2D experiments, COSY, HMQC and HMBC. The structural relationship of bartericins B and C was further established by the chemical cyclization of one to the other.

Prenylated flavonoids, monoterpenoid furanocoumarins and other constituents from the twigs of Dorstenia elliptica (Moraceae).

A monoprenylated flavan and two monoterpenoid substituted furanocoumarins were isolated from the twigs of Dorstenia elliptica along with 3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-4,2',4'-trihydroxylchalcone, psoralen, bergapten, O-[3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-2H-furan-5-yl)butyl]bergaptol, beta-sitosterol and its beta-D-glucopyranoside. The structure of the flavan was determined as 6(1,1-dimethylallyl)-7,4'-dihydroxylflavan and the monoterpenoid substituted furanocoumarins were assigned as O-[3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-2H-furan-5-yl)-3-hydroxybutyl]-bergaptol and O-[2-(5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-3-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl)ethyl]bergaptol, respectively, using spectroscopic analysis, especially, 2D NMR spectra.

Anticancer activities of six selected natural compounds of some Cameroonian medicinal plants.

BACKGROUND: Natural products are well recognized as sources of drugs in several human ailments. In the present work, we carried out a preliminary screening of six natural compounds, xanthone V(1) (1); 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone (2); physcion (3); bisvismiaquinone (4); vismiaquinone (5); 1,8-dihydroxy-3-geranyloxy-6-methylanthraquinone (6) against MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic and CCRF-CEM leukemia cells and their multidrug-resistant subline, CEM/ADR5000. Compounds 1 and 2 were then tested in several other cancer cells and their possible mode of action were investigated. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: The tested compounds were previously isolated from the Cameroonian medicinal plants Vismia laurentii (1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) and Newbouldia laevis (2). The preliminary cytotoxicity results allowed the selection of xanthone V(1) and 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone, which were then tested on a panel of cancer cell lines. The study was also extended to the analysis of cell cycle distribution, apoptosis induction, caspase 3/7 activation and the anti-angiogenic properties of xanthone V(1) and 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone. IC(50) values around or below 4 µg/ml were obtained on 64.29% and 78.57% of the tested cancer cell lines for xanthone V(1) and 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone, respectively. The most sensitive cell lines (IC(50)<1 µg/ml) were breast MCF-7 (to xanthone V(1)), cervix HeLa and Caski (to xanthone V(1) and 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone), leukemia PF-382 and melanoma colo-38 (to 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone). The two compounds showed respectively, 65.8% and 59.6% inhibition of the growth of blood capillaries on the chorioallantoic membrane of quail eggs in the anti-angiogenic assay. Upon treatment with two fold IC(50) and after 72 h, the two compounds induced cell cycle arrest in S-phase, and also significant apoptosis in CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. Caspase 3/7 was activated by xanthone V(1). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The overall results of the present study provided evidence for the cytotoxicity of compounds xanthone V(1) and 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone, and bring supportive data for future investigations that will lead to their use in cancer therapy.