Efficient synthesis of flavanone glucuronides.

The first efficient synthesis of flavanone glucuronides as potential human metabolites is described. The synthetic strategy is based on acetyl protection, followed by a combination of chemical and enzymatic deprotection steps. As an example, the method is applied to a synthesis of 7,4'-di-O-methyleriodictyol 3'-O-beta-d-glucuronide. The aglycone is a flavanone naturally present in tarragon spice ( Artemisia dracunculus ) as well as in various Chinese, Brazilian, and Malaysian medicinal plants.

Investigation of a new 1,3-diarylpropenone as a potential antimitotic agent targeting bladder carcinoma.

1-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(1-methylindolyl) propenone, namely IPP51, was identified by screening a library of 3-indolyl-1-phenylpropenones. IPP51 was investigated for its ability to inhibit proliferation and/or to induce apoptosis of human bladder cancer cell lines and to assess its potential use in bladder carcinoma treatment. After treating the cells with IPP51 for 24 h, the title compound induced a predominant and reversible G2+M accumulation at the prometaphase stage of mitosis. However, when used for a longer period, it leads to cell apoptosis. These results suggest that the compound has potential anticancer activities, which could be useful in bladder cancer treatment.

Antimitotic and antiproliferative activities of chalcones: forward structure-activity relationship.

A series of 59 chalcones was prepared and evaluated for the antimitotic effect against K562 leukemia cells. The most active chalcones were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of 11 human and murine cell cancer lines. We found that three chalcones were of great interest as potential antimitotic drugs. In vivo safety studies conducted on one of the most active chalcones revealed that the compound was safe, allowing further in vivo antitumor evaluation.

Acridone derivatives: design, synthesis, and inhibition of breast cancer resistance protein ABCG2.

The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2) is among the latest discovered ABC proteins to be involved in MDR phenotype and for which only few inhibitors are known. In continuing our program aimed at discovering efficient multidrug resistance modulators, we conceived and synthesized new acridones as ABCG2 inhibitors. The design of target molecules was based on earlier results dealing with ABCG2 inhibition with flavone and chromone derivatives. The human wild-type (R482) ABCG2-transfected cells were used for rational screening of inhibitory acridones. The synthesis of target compounds, the inhibitory activity against ABCG2, and structure-activity relationships are described. One of the acridones was even more potent than the reference inhibitor, GF120918, as shown by its ability to inhibit mitoxantrone efflux.

2-Arylidenedihydroindole-3-ones: design, synthesis, and biological activity on bladder carcinoma cell lines.

2-Arylidenedihydroindole-3-ones were assayed for their antiproliferative and apoptotic abilities as potential drug candidates to treat bladder tumor. These compounds were tested on cell lines obtained from bladder tumors of various stages [superficial (pTa and pT1) vs. invasive (pT2)]. The most active compound (3c) inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis, and decreased the expression of p-Stat5 and p-Pyk2 in DAG-1 and RT112 lines in which the FGFR3 is either mutated or overexpressed. Knowing that FGFR3 is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration through cell signaling pathways including p-Stat5 way via p-Pyk2, let us assume that compound 3c may probably act through FGFR3 pathway.

Piperazinobenzopyranones and phenalkylaminobenzopyranones: potent inhibitors of breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2).

In continuing research that led us to identify chromanone derivatives (J. Med. Chem. 2003, 46, 2125) as P-glycoprotein inhibitors, we obtained analogues able to modulate multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). The linkage of 5-hydroxybenzopyran-4-one to piperazines or phenalkylamines affords highly potent inhibitors of BCRP. By using sensitive (HCT116) and resistant colon cancer cells expressing BCRP, we evaluated the effect of 14 benzopyranone (chromone) derivatives on the accumulation and the cytotoxic effect of the anticancer drug, mitoxantrone. At 10 microM, three compounds increased both intracellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone in HCT116/R cells with a comparable rate as fumitremorgin C and Gleevec used as reference inhibitors. The most potent molecules 5b and 5c are still active at 1 microM, whereas FTC shows weak inhibition. These molecules do not induce cell death as shown by the cell cycle distribution study, which makes them potential candidates for in vivo studies.

2'-Amino-alpha-chloroacetophenone as a valuable tool for the synthesis of conveniently-substituted alpha,beta-epoxychalcone derivatives.

The synthesis of conveniently substituted 2'-amino-alpha,beta-epoxychalcones is described. They were obtained through Darzens condensation of 2'-amino-3',5'-dimethoxy-alpha-chloroacetophenone with benzaldehydes. The latter can undergo different cyclization possibilities and afford a variety of flavonoid analogs with biological potential.