Ameliorative effects of Magnolia sieboldii buds hexane extract on experimental reflux esophagitis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that stomach contents continually refluxing into esophagus causes symptoms and/or complications. The study was working to find natural plant extracts with good effects and small side effects to treat reflux esophagitis (RE). The anti-inflammatory effects of hexane extract of Magnolia sieboldii (MsHE) were conducted on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The ameliorative effects of MsHE on esophageal damage in rats induced by gastric acid reflux was explored in vivo. The results showed that MsHE decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression levels of iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and MsHE treatment ameliorated the rats' esophageal tissue damage induced by gastric acid and inhibited the increase of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, MsHE protected the function of barrier of epithelial cells against inflammatory conditions through increasing the expression of tight junctions. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was used for determine the active ingredients contained in MsHE. The results show that MsHE can alleviate experimental rat RE by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. In summary, MsHE may be used as a source material of drug candidate for the treatment of RE.

Effects of initial moisture content of Korean traditional wheat-based fermentation starter nuruk on microbial abundance and diversity.

The brewing of makgeolli, one of Korea's most popular alcoholic beverages that is gaining popularity globally, is facilitated by nuruk, a traditional Korean cereal starter. The nuruk microbiome greatly influences the fermentation process as well as the nutritional, hygienic, and aromatic qualities of the product. This study is a continuation of our efforts to examine nuruk biodiversity at a depth previously unattainable. In this study, microfloral dynamics in wheat-based nuruk C, composed of traditional ingredients such as barley, green gram, and wheat and fermented under various internal moisture contents of 20% (C20), 26% (C26), and 30% (C30), was evaluated using 454 pyrosequencing during the 30-day fermentation process. Rarefaction analysis and alpha diversity parameters indicated adequate sampling. C20 showed the greatest fungal richness and diversity, C20 and C26 exhibited similar bacterial richness and diversity, while C30 had low fungal and bacterial richness. Fungal taxonomic assignments revealed that the initial moisture content caused selective enrichment of Aspergillus candidus with a decreasing trend during fermentation, whereas Saccharomycetales sp. exhibited increasing relative abundance with increasing moisture content from day 6 of the fermentation process. Depending on initial moisture level, changes in bacterial communities were also observed in the genera Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus, with decreasing trends whereas Saccharopolyspora exhibited a sigmoidal trend with the highest abundance in C26. These findings demonstrate the possible impact of initial moisture content of nuruk on microfloral richness, diversity, and dynamics; this study is thus a step toward our ultimate goal of enhancing the quality of nuruk.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic potential of phenolic acids and flavonoid fractions isolated from Lolium multiflorum.

CONTEXT: Interest has recently renewed in using Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Poaceae) (called Italian ryegrass; IRG) silage as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory diet. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic potential of IRG silage and identified the primary components in IRG active fractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 16 fractions were separated from the chloroform-soluble extract of IRG aerial part using Sephadex LH-20 column before HPLC analysis. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the fractions at doses of 0-100 µg/mL were investigated using various cell-free and cell-mediated assay systems. To explore anti-septic effect of IRG fractions, female ICR and BALB/c mice orally received 40 mg/kg of phenolic acid and flavonoid-rich active fractions F7 and F8 every other day for 10 days, respectively, followed by LPS challenge. RESULTS: The active fractions showed greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential compared with other fractions. IC50 values of F7 and F8 to reduce LPS-stimulated NO and TNF-α production were around 15 and 30 µg/mL, respectively. Comparison of retention times with authentic compounds through HPLC analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, myricetin and kaempferol in the fractions as primary components. These fractions inhibited LPS-stimulated MAPK and NF-κB activation. Supplementation with F7 or F8 improved the survival rates of mice to 70 and 60%, respectively, in LPS-injected mice and reduced near completely serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study highlights antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic activities of IRG active fractions, eventually suggesting their usefulness in preventing oxidative damage and inflammatory disorders.

Taxonomic Characterization, Evaluation of Toxigenicity, and Saccharification Capability of Aspergillus Section Flavi Isolates from Korean Traditional Wheat-Based Fermentation Starter Nuruk.

The most economically important species used in a wide range of fermentation industries throughout Asia belong to Aspergillus section Flavi, which are morphologically and phylogenetically indistinguishable, with a few being toxigenic and therefore a major concern. They are frequently isolated from Korean fermentation starters, such as nuruk and meju. The growing popularity of traditional Korean alcoholic beverages has led to a demand for their quality enhancement, therefore requiring selection of efficient non-toxigenic strains to assist effective fermentation. This study was performed to classify the most efficient strains of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from various types of traditional wheat nuruk, based on a polyphasic approach involving molecular and biochemical evaluation. A total of 69 strains were isolated based on colony morphology and identified as Aspergillusoryzae/flavus based on internal transcribed spacer and calmodulin gene sequencing. Interestingly, none were toxigenic based on PCR amplification of intergenic regions of the aflatoxin cluster genes norB-cypA and the absence of aflatoxin in the culture supernatants by thin-layer chromatography analysis. Saccharification capability of the isolates, assessed through α-amylase and glucoamylase activities, revealed that two isolates, TNA24 and TNA15, showed the highest levels of activity. Although the degrees of variation in α-amylase and glucoamylase activities among the isolates were higher, there were only slight differences in acid protease activity among the isolates with two, TNA28 and TNA36, showing the highest activities. Furthermore, statistical analyses showed that α-amylase activity was positively correlated with glucoamylase activity (p < 0.001), and therefore screening for either was sufficient to predict the saccharifying capacity of the Aspergillus strain.

Identification of a Polyketide Synthase Gene in the Synthesis of Phleichrome of the Phytopathogenic Fungus Cladosporium phlei.

Phleichrome, a pigment produced by the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium phlei, is a fungal perylenequinone whose photodynamic activity has been studied intensively. To determine the biological function of phleichrome and to engineer a strain with enhanced production of phleichrome, we identified the gene responsible for the synthesis of phleichrome. Structural comparison of phleichrome with other fungal perylenequinones suggested that phleichrome is synthesized via polyketide pathway. We recently identified four different polyketide synthase (PKS) genes encompassing three major clades of fungal PKSs that differ with respect to reducing conditions for the polyketide product. Based on in silico analysis of cloned genes, we hypothesized that the non-reducing PKS gene, Cppks1, is involved in phleichrome biosynthesis. Increased accumulation of Cppks1 transcript was observed in response to supplementation with the application of synthetic inducer cyclo-(l-Pro-l-Phe). In addition, heterologous expression of the Cppks1 gene in Cryphonectria parasitica resulted in the production of phleichrome. These results provide convincing evidence that the Cppks1 gene is responsible for the biosynthesis of phleichrome.

Improved production of phleichrome from the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium phlei using synthetic inducers and photodynamic ROS production by phleichrome.

Two different diketopiperazines, cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu) and cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe), which were isolated from the culture filtrate of Epichloe typhina and found to be inducers of phleichrome production, were chemically synthesized and evaluated for use in the improved production of phleichrome from wild-type and UV-mutagenized strains (M0035) of Cladosporium phlei. When supplemented with PDA and V8 juice agar media, both inducers showed significant increases in the production of phleichrome. Phleichrome production was increased in a dose-dependent manner up to a concentration of maximum yield for both inducers. No further significant induction was observed by supplementing inducers over the concentration of maximum yield. Among the two inducers, cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe) showed better inducing capability than cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu). The maximum yield was observed from the M0035 strain grown on V8 juice media supplemented with 150 µM cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe), which was estimated to be 232.6 mg of phleichrome per gram of mycelia and 10.2 mg of secreted phleichrome per 20 agar-plugs. Interestingly, growth inhibition was observed on V8 juice agar media with 100, 150, and 200 µM cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe) but not on PDA with the same amount of inducer, which suggests that the inhibitory effect might be through the overproduction of phleichrome rather than the toxic effect of the inducer itself. Superoxide production by purified phleichrome was dramatically stimulated upon illumination, thus demonstrating photodynamic production of superoxide in vitro by phleichrome.

Structural characterization of phenolic antioxidants from purple perilla (Perilla frutescens var. acuta) leaves.

The antioxidant activities of various extracts from purple perilla (Perilla frutescens var. acuta) leaves based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylenebenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging ability, and reducing power were investigated. Purple perilla leaves were initially extracted with 80% ethanol and then sequentially fractionated according to solvent polarity. Of all fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest antioxidant activity. This fraction was separated into four sub-fractions (sub-fractions 1-4) by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Of the four sub-fractions, sub-fraction 3 had the highest antioxidant activity. The EC50 values of sub-fraction 3 for DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power were 2.4 and 1.7 times lower than those of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), respectively. Based on HPLC analysis, the most abundant phenolic acid in sub-fraction 3 of purple perilla leaves was rosmarinic acid, at 314.3 mg/g. The structure of rosmarinic acid was confirmed by ESI-IT-TOF MS and NMR analysis.

Methanol extract of the aerial parts of barley (Hordeum vulgare) suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo.

CONTEXT: Recently, there has been renewed interest in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. Poaceae) as a functional food and for its medicinal properties. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the anti-inflammatory potential of the active fractions of barley and the mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The macrophages were exposed to 100 µg/mL of each of the barley extracts in the presence of 1 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and after 24 or 48 h of incubation, cells or culture supernatants were analyzed by various assays. The anti-inflammatory potential of barley fractions was also investigated using the LPS-injected septic mouse model. The active constituents in the fractions were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: The active fractions, named F4, F7, F9 and F12, inhibited almost completely the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase. Pre-treatment with these fractions at 100 µg/mL diminished the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels to 19.8, 3.5, 1.2 and 1.7 ng/mL, respectively, compared to LPS treatment alone (41.5 ng/mL). These fractions at 100 µg/mL also suppressed apparently the secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1ß and the DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-κB in LPS-stimulated cells. Mice injected intraperitoneally with LPS (30 mg/kg BW) showed 20% survival at 48 h after injection, whereas oral administration of the fractions improved the survival rates to 80%. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of the derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids and fatty acids in the fractions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The aerial parts of barley are useful as functional food to prevent acute inflammatory responses.

Chloroform extract of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by downregulating ERK/NF-κB signaling and cytokine production.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is commonly used as a traditional medicine and functional food. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of alfalfa and the mechanisms involved. The chloroform extract of alfalfa aerial parts inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated immune responses more than ether, butanol, or water soluble extracts. Treatment with 1 µg/mL LPS increased nitrite concentrations to 44.3 µM in RAW267.4 macrophages, but it was reduced to 10.6 µM by adding 100 µg/mL chloroform extract. LPS treatment also increased the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß to 41.3, 11.6, and 0.78 ng/mL in culture supernatants of the cells, but these cytokine levels decreased to 12.5, 3.1, and 0.19 ng/mL, respectively, by pretreating with 100 µg/mL of the extract. ICR mice injected with LPS (30 mg/kg body weight) alone showed a 0% survival rate after 48 h of the injection, but 48-h survival of the mice increased to 60% after oral administration of the extract. Subfractions of the chloroform extract markedly suppressed LPS-mediated activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and nuclear factor kappa-B. Cinnamic acid derivatives and fatty acids were found to be active constituents of the extract. This research demonstrated that alfalfa aerial parts exert anti-inflammatory activity and may be useful as a functional food for the prevention of inflammatory disorders.

Rapid screening of an ordered fosmid library to clone multiple polyketide synthase genes of the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium phlei.

In previous studies, the biological characteristics of the fungus Cladosporium phlei and its genetic manipulation by transformation were assessed to improve production of the fungal pigment, phleichrome, which is a fungal perylenequinone that plays an important role in the production of a photodynamic therapeutic agent. However, the low production of this metabolite by the wild-type strain has limited its application. Thus, we attempted to clone and characterize the genes that encode polyketide synthases (PKS), which are responsible for the synthesis of fungal pigments such as perylenequinones including phleichrome, elsinochrome and cercosporin. Thus, we performed genomic DNA PCR using 11 different combinations of degenerate primers targeting conserved domains including ß-ketoacyl synthase and acyltransferase domains. Sequence comparison of the PCR amplicons revealed a high homology to known PKSs, and four different PKS genes showing a high similarity to three representative types of PKS genes were amplified. To obtain full-length PKS genes, an ordered gene library of a phleichrome-producing C. phlei strain (ATCC 36193) was constructed in a fosmid vector and 4800 clones were analyzed using a simple pyramidal arrangement system. This hierarchical clustering method combines the efficiency of PCR with enhanced specificity. Among the three representative types of PKSs, two reducing, one partially reducing, and one non-reducing PKS were identified. These genes were subsequently cloned, sequenced, and characterized. Biological characterization of these genes to determine their roles in phleichrome production is underway, with the ultimate aim of engineering this pathway to overproduce the desired substance.

Characterization of a mutant strain of a filamentous fungus Cladosporium phlei for the mass production of the secondary metabolite phleichrome.

UV-mutagenesis was performed to obtain mutant strains that demonstrate altered production of phleichrome, a secondary metabolite of Cladosporium phlei. Among fifty mutants selected, based on the increased area and intensity of the purple pigment surrounding the colonies, the strain M0035 showed the highest production of phleichrome, more than seven fold over wild type. Plate cultures of the M0035 strain resulted in a total of 592 mg phleichrome consisting of 146 mg and 446 mg from the mycelia and agar media, respectively. The M0035 strain displayed a growth rate and a mycelial mass comparable to the parental strain but had significantly reduced asexual sporulation.

(E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells through G1 cell cycle arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Growing interest in the beneficial effects of antioxidants has inspired the synthesis of new phenolic acid phenethyl ureas (PAPUs) with enhanced antioxidant potential. We have previously shown the capacity of one PAPU compound, (E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea (PAPU1), to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in melanoma cells. In the present study, we examined the anti-proliferative effects of PAPU compounds on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and determined the molecular mechanisms involved. Treatment with PAPU compounds inhibited predominantly proliferation in these cells, where the PAPU1 was the most efficient form. Flow cytometric analysis showed that PAPU1 blocked cell cycle progression in the G(0)/G(1) phase, and reduced the proportion of cells in G(2)/M phase. This was related to the inhibition of cell cycle regulatory factors, including cyclin D/E and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2/4, through induction of p21(Cip1). PAPU1 also induced the mitochondrial-mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. This was evidenced by cellular changes in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and caspase-9 activation. Collectively, our results suggest that G(1) cell cycle regulatory proteins and mitochondrial pathways are the crucial targets of PAPU1 in the chemoprevention of breast cancer cells.

A phenolic acid phenethyl urea compound inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cell culture.

We previously used the Curtius rearrangement to synthesize various phenolic acid phenethyl urea compounds from phenolic acids and demonstrated their beneficial anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. Here, we investigated the effects of one of these synthetic compounds, (E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)urea (DSHP-U), on nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and cytokine secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DSHP-U suppressed LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression at a concentration of 50 microM and inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 kinase. Inhibitors of phosphorylated (p)-ERK and p-p38, but not of p-JNK, reduced LPS-stimulated NO production. DSHP-U also prevented the nuclear translocation of the Rel A (p65) subunit and DNA-NF-kappaB binding by suppressing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and by the degradation of IkappaBalpha in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, DSHP-U decreased the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 in LPS-treated macrophages. However, the LPS-stimulated expression of LPS receptors, such as Toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation factor-2, and CD14, was unchanged after DSHP-U treatment at significantly high levels. Our data suggest that DSHP-U blocks NO and inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated macrophages and that these effects are mainly mediated through the inhibition of the ERK/p38- and NF-kappaB signaling pathways.

Induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis in melanoma cells by the synthetic compound (E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea.

Recently, various phenolic acid phenethyl ureas (PAPUs) have been synthesized from phenolic acids by Curtius rearrangement for the development of more effective anti-oxidants. In this study, we examined the anti-tumor activity and cellular mechanism of the synthetic compound (E)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl)-3-styrylurea (PAPU1) using melanoma B16/F10 and M-3 cells. Results showed that PAPU1 inhibited the cell proliferation and viability, but did not induce cytotoxic effects on primary cultured fibroblasts. PAPU1 induced apoptotic cell death rather than necrosis in melanoma cells, a result clearly proven by the shift of cells into sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle and by the substantial increase in cells positively stained with TUNEL or Annexin V. Collectively, this study revealed that PAPU1 induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner, suggesting a potential role as a cancer chemopreventive agent for melanoma cells.

Overexpression of discoidin domain receptor 1 increases the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in association with matrix metalloproteinase.

The discoidin domain receptor (DDR) is a class of receptor tyrosine kinases that binds to several collagens. DDR1 is widely expressed in fast-growing invasive tumors of the breast, ovary, esophagus, brain and lung. However, there is little information on the expression of DDR1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or its function in migration and invasion. Western blot analysis was performed to determine if four HCC cell lines (HLE, Huh-7, HepG2 and SH-J1) express DDR1. The HLE and Huh-7 cell lines were transfected with two isoforms of DDR1, DDR1a and DDR1b. Immunoprecipitation for DDR1 was then performed. Migration and invasion assays were carried out and the number of migrating cells was counted in 6 randomly selected fields per well under an optical microscope. Zymography was used to determine the level of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 expression. DDR1 was expressed in all four cell lines. In the migration assay, the number of migrating cells was significantly higher in the DDR1a- or DDR1b-overexpressing HLE and Huh-7 cells, particularly after collagen type I stimulation (P<0.001). Collagen type I stimulation activated DDR1. In the invasion assay, there was a significantly higher number of invading cells in the DDR1a- or DDR1b-overexpressing HLE cells and DDR1a-overexpressing Huh-7 cells than in the control (P<0.01). The DDR1a- and DDR1b-overexpressing HLE cells showed a remarkable increase in the MMP-9 and -2 expression, particularly the active MMP-2. The DDR1a- and DDR1b-overexpressing Huh-7 cells showed a slight increase in the MMP-9 and -2 expression. The increased invasiveness of the HCC may be associated with the overexpression of either DDR1a or DDR1b mediated by MMP-2 and -9. Although this study provided one possible mechanism for the invasion of HCC cells, more studies are needed to understand the signal through which DDR1a and DDR1b act in invasion.

Discoidin domain receptor 2 is involved in the activation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells caused by type I collagen.

Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs), DDR1 and DDR2, are non-integrin receptor tyrosine kinases for collagen in many cell types. In this study, we investigated the contributions of DDRs to the activation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) by type I collagen (ColI). Our data showed that transcript and protein of DDR2 were expressed constitutively in immature DCs and upregulated in TNF-alpha-stimulated mature DCs. ColI treatment induced DDR2 phosphorylation and subsequently induced the upregulation of IL-12 production, CD86 expression, and antigen uptake activity by immature DCs. Depletion of DDR2 by specific siRNA attenuated significantly an increase in expression of IL-12 and CD86 in ColI-treated DCs. Additionally, DDR2-ColI interaction upregulated the ability of mature DCs to activate allogeneic T cells. These findings suggest that DDR2 is a critical collagen receptor for DC activation and that DDR2-collagen interaction plays an important role in the functional capacity of DCs regulating immune responses.

Epstein-Barr virus-infected Akata cells are sensitive to histone deacetylase inhibitor TSA-provoked apoptosis.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects more than 90 % of the world's population and has a potential oncogenic nature. A histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), has shown potential ability in cancer chemoprevention and treatment, but its effect on EBV-infected Akata cells has not been examined. This study investigated the effect of TSA on the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells. TSA inhibited cell growth and induced cytotoxicity in the EBV-infected Akata cells. TSA treatment sensitively induced apoptosis in the cell, which was demonstrated by the increased number of positively stained cells in the TUNEL assay, the migration of many cells to the sub-G0/G1 phase in flow cytometric analysis, and the ladder formation of genomic DNA. Western blot analysis showed that caspase-dependent pathways are involved in the TSA-induced apoptosis of EBV-infected Akata cells. Overall, this study shows that EBV-infected B lymphomas are quite sensitive to TSA-provoked apoptosis.

Lead discovery of quinoxalinediones as an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) by high-throughput screening.

N-Ureido-quinoxalinedione derivatives have been discovered as leads for a novel series of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors through high-throughput screening of our chemical library. A brief structure-activity relationship of the compounds was investigated. Among them, entry 5 showed the most potent inhibitory activity. The nitro group in quinoxaline moiety and the aromatic sulfonyl substituted ureido functional group seem to be important to increase the potency dramatically.

Novel benzoylurea derivatives as potential antitumor agents; synthesis, activities and structure-activity relationships.

A series of pyrazoloxyphenyl benzoyl urea derivatives was designed and synthesized for cytotoxic evaluation as potential antitumor agents. The synthetic compounds were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines, including A-549, SKOV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF-498 and HCT-15. Among others, compound 11 exhibited 50-100 times greater antitumor activities than the commercial product, Cisplatin.