Design, semi-synthesis and examination of new gypsogenin derivatives against leukemia via Abl tyrosine kinase inhibition and apoptosis induction.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by Philadelphia translocation arising from Bcr-Abl fusion gene, which encodes abnormal oncoprotein showing tyrosine kinase (TK) function. Certain mutations in kinase domain, off-target effects and resistance problems of current TK inhibitors require the discovery of novel Abl TK inhibitors. For this purpose, herein, we synthesized new gypsogenin derivatives (6a-l) and evaluated their anticancer effects towards CML cells along with healthy cell line and different leukemic cells. Among these compounds, compound 6l was found as the most active anti-leukemic agent against K562 CML cells compared to imatinib exerting less cytotoxicity towards PBMCs (healthy). This compound also revealed significant anti-leukemic effects against Jurkat cell line. Besides, compound 6l enhanced apoptosis in CML cells with 52.4 % when compared with imatinib (61.8 %) and inhibited Abl TK significantly with an IC50 value of 13.04 ± 2.48 µM in a large panel of kinases accentuating Abl TK-mediated apoptosis of compound 6l in CML cells. Molecular docking outcomes showed that compound 6l formed mainly crucial interactions in the ATP-binding cleft of Abl TK similar to that of imatinib. Ultimately, in silico pharmacokinetic evaluation of compound 6l indicated that this compound was endowed with anti-leukemic drug candidate features.

Triterpene glycosides from Silene odontopetala.

Silene species are known for their use in traditional medicine in treating several diseases. To the authors' knowledge there is no report on the chemical composition of S. odontopetala. Therefore, the phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of S. odontopetala was carried out, leading to the isolation of six undescribed oleanane-type glycosides along with the known saponin azukisaponin IV. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments, along with mass spectrometry analysis. The cytotoxic activity of oleanane-type saponins was evaluated against a small panel of cancer cell lines, including PC-3 (prostate carcinoma cells), MCF-7 (breast cancer cells), A549 (alveolar basal carcinoma cells), and HeLa (cervical carcinoma cells). Furthermore, the activity of isolated compounds against a normal cell line HEK-293, used for assessing their cytotoxicity, was evaluated.

Radiolabeling and in vitro evaluation of a new 5-fluorouracil derivative with cell culture studies.

The clinical impact and accessibility of 99m Tc tracers for cancer diagnosis would be greatly enhanced by the availability of a new, simple, and easy labeling process and radiopharmaceuticals. 5-Fluorouracil is an antitumor drug, which has played an important role for the treatment of breast carcinoma. In the present study, a new derivative of 5-Fluorouracil was synthesized as (1-[{1'-(1''-deoxy-2'',3'':4'',5''-di-O-isopropylidene-ß-D-fructopyranose-1''-yl)-1'H-1',2', 3'-triazol-4'-yl}methyl]-5-fluorouracil) (E) and radiolabeled with 99m Tc. It was analyzed by radio thin layer chromatography for quality control and stability. The radiolabeled complex was subjected to in vitro cell-binding studies to determine healthy and cancer cell affinity using HaCaT and MCF-7 cells, respectively. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity studies of compound E were performed with HaCaT and MCF-5 cells. The radiochemical purity of the [99m Tc]TcE was found to be higher than 90% at room temperature up to 6 hours. The radiolabeled complex showed higher specific binding to MCF-7 cells than HaCaT cells. IC50 values of E were found 31.5 ± 3.4 µM and 20.7 ± 2.77 µM for MCF-7 and HaCaT cells, respectively. The results demonstrated the potential of a new radiolabeled E with 99m Tc has selective for breast cancer cells.

Chemical constituents of Silene montbretiana.

A new steroidal glycoside, 3- O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-3ß,25-dihydroxy-5ß-cholest-7-en-6-one 25- O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1), together with six known steroidal derivatives (2-7), one cerebroside (8) and one flavonoid (9) were isolated from Silene montbretiana Boiss (Caryophyllaceae), a perennial herb growing mainly in the Middle and East Anatolia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Their structures were established by the extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR experiments along with ESI-MS analyses. The cytotoxicity against the cancer A549 (human alveolar basal carcinoma) and Hela (human epitheloid cervix carcinoma) cell lines has been evaluated. None of the tested compounds, in a range of concentrations between 12.5 and 100 µM, caused a significant reduction of the cell number.

Syntheses of 1,2,3-triazole-bridged pyranose sugars with purine and pyrimidine nucleobases and evaluation of their anticancer potential.

With the aim to create a library of compounds with potential bioactivities by combining special characteristics of two important groups such as nucleobases and carbohydrates, twenty 1,4-disubstituted-triazole nucleosides were synthesized in good yields (80-94%) using the copper catalyzed 'Click' reaction between azido-modified pento- or hexopyranoses and alkyne-bearing pyrimidine or purine nucleobases. Structural elucidation was made with the assistance of spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, 1D-, 2D-NMR, and ESI-TOFMS. All the synthesized triazole nucleosides were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, Hep3B, PC-3) by using the MTT assay. Particularly, compounds 3a and 1b were identified as potential hits against Hep3B cell.

Synthesis, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, and structure-activity relationships of gypsogenin derivatives against human cancer cells.

A series of gypsogenin (1) derivatives (1a-i) was synthesized in good yields, and the derivatives' structures were established using UV, IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and LCMS spectroscopic data. Among the tested compounds, 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, and gypsogenin (1) showed antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thrungiensis, with inhibition zones of 10-14 mm. In addition, compounds 1b, 1d, and 1e showed antimicrobial activities against Bacillus cereus, with inhibition zones of 9-14 mm. Using six human cancer cell lines in vitro, the cytotoxic activities of all tested compounds were determined by calculating the IC50 values. Doxorubicin and paclitaxel were used as controls. Among the tested compounds, 1a, 1c, and 1d had inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 3.9 µM (HL-60 cells), 5.15 µM (MCF-7 cells), and 5.978 µM (HL-60), respectively. To determine the type of cell death, Hoechst 33258 (HO) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining was used. Especially, gypsogenin (1) and compound 1a triggered the apoptotic mechanism at a concentration of 20 µM. Thus, gypsogenin (1) and compounds 1a, 1c, and 1d possess varying degrees of biological activities and can be considered as potential antitumor agents.

Oleanane glycosides from Astragalus tauricolus: isolation and structural elucidation based on a preliminary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry profiling.

As a part of our ongoing research for bioactive compounds from Turkish Astragalus species, the investigation of Astragalus tauricolus has been carried out. An approach based on HPLC-ESIMS(n) experiments has been used to profile the triterpene glycosides occurring in the butanol extract of the whole plant. On the basis of the results of the online screening by HPLC-ESIMS(n), 22 oleanane-type triterpene glycosides, including ten compounds never reported before, were isolated, and their structures were established by the extensive use of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments along with ESIMS and HRMS analysis. Noteworthy, cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides, the main constituents of Astragalus spp., were not found. This peculiar feature characterizes a very limited group of Astragalus spp. The antiproliferative activity of the isolated compounds 1-12, 15, 17-19 was evaluated against a small panel of cancer cell lines. Only compound 11 showed an IC(50) of 22 µM against human leukemia cell line (U937). The other tested compounds, in a range of concentrations between 1 and 50 µM, did not cause any significant reduction of the cell number.

Triterpene saponins from Cyclamen hederifolium.

Five triterpene saponins never reported before, hederifoliosides A-E, and four known triterpene saponins were isolated from the tubers of Cyclamen hederifolium. The structures of hederifoliosides A-E were determined as 3ß,16α-dihydroxy-13ß,28-epoxyolean-30-oic acid 3-O-{[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside}, 3ß,16α-dihydroxy-13ß,28-epoxyolean-30-oic acid 3-O-{[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside}, 3ß,16α-dihydroxy-13ß,28-epoxyolean-30-al 3-O-{[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside}, 30-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-3ß,16α,30-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-al 3-O-{[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside}, 30-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-3ß,16α,28,30-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en 3-O-{[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O]-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside}, by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, and mass spectrometry. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against a small panel of cancer cell lines including Hela, H-446, HT-29, and U937. None of the tested compounds, in a range of concentrations between 1 and 50 µM, caused a significant reduction of the cell number.