C-30 analogues of betulinic acid as potent cytotoxic agents: design, synthesis, biological evaluation and in-silico studies.

In an endeavour to improve the anti-cancer activity of betulinic acid (BA), a series of C-30 derivatives were envisaged and synthesized with a novel synthetic approach. All the derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxic activity by MTT assay against six different human cancer cell lines: prostate (PC3), lung (A549), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), human leukemia (Molt-4), pancreatic (Panc-1) and breast (MCF-7). The data revealed that compound 16 was observed most promising cytotoxic agent with IC50 values of 7.43 µM, 9.1 µM, and 9.64 µM against A549, MCF-7, and PC3 cancer cell lines respectively. A further mechanistic study confirmed compound 16 showed significant cell death by arresting the cell cycle in the G1 phase and inducing apoptosis in A549 cells.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Effect of IS01957, a para-coumaric acid derivative on pharmacokinetic modulation of diclofenac through oral route for augmented efficacy.

Diclofenac is one of the world's largest selling nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The major concerns related to oral diclofenac therapy are gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects for which explicitly emphasis has been given to use it at lowest effective dose for the shortest duration. On the other hand, IS01957 has been designed under the purview of anti-inflammatory drug and bioavailability enhancer. IS01957 have dual action on inflammation and nociception with acceptable safety profile. In the quest for a suitable combination with improved therapeutic efficacy and better tolerability, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interaction studies were performed for diclofenac with or without IS01957 in mice model. Results showed that IS01957 enhanced both anti-inflammatory effect and plasma concentration of diclofenac upon concomitant oral administration. These interesting results steered to enumerate the possible role of IS01957 towards diclofenac pharmacokinetics through a panel of mechanistic investigations: (a) BCRP dependent ATPase activity was markedly interfered by IS01957; (b) IS01957 increased the intestinal permeability of diclofenac in the single pass in-situ perfusion model; (c) IS01957 inhibited the CYP2C9 catalyzed diclofenac 4-hydroxylation in human liver microsomes. Immunoblotting results suggest that diclofenac action was improved significantly in the presence of IS01957 involving MAPK pathways. Finally acute gastric damage study showed that IS01957 in combination with diclofenac was better to improve the desired PGE2 level as compare to alone. In nutshell, IS01957 have potential to augment the efficacy of diclofenac through pharmacokinetic modulation. Further investigations are required for dose reduction of diclofenac to combat its liabilities before going into clinical setting.

Synthesis of novel benzylidene analogues of betulinic acid as potent cytotoxic agents.

Different benzylidene derivatives (15a-o and 16a-o) of betulinic acid were designed and synthesized in an effort to develop potent anticancer agents. All the synthesized derivatives along with betulinic acid were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a panel of five different human cancer cell lines A-549 (Lung), PC-3 (Prostate), HCT 116 (Colon), MCF-7 (Breast) and MIA PaCa-2 (Pancreatic) using SRB assay. Pharmacological results showed that compounds 15b, 15c, 15i, 15k, 16a-c and 16l were found to have promising cytotoxic profile against various cancer cell lines tested (IC50 1-2 µM). Best results were observed for compound 16c with IC50 values 1.5, 1.6, 1.36, 3.5 and 3.2 µM against A-549, PC-3, HCT 116, MCF-7 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines, respectively. Mechanistic study of compound 16c revealed that it inhibits the colony formation and restrict the migration in HCT 116 cells in vitro. It also induces growth arrest with characterized morphological changes and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in a concentration dependent manner.

A convergent synthesis of novel alkyne-azide cycloaddition congeners of betulinic acid as potent cytotoxic agent.

In an endeavour to develop potent anti-tumor agents from betulinic acid (BA), a series of C-28 derived 1,2,3-triazolyl derivatives were designed and synthesized by employing Cu(I) catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. All the derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxic activity by MTT assay against five different human cancer cell lines: lung (A549), colon (HCT116), prostate (PC3), pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2) and breast (T47D). The data revealed that compounds 11c, 11d, 11g, 11h and 13a possess most promising cytotoxic potential. The compound 11h was one of the most active compounds, with IC50 values in the range of 4-6µM against all the five cancer cell lines. The results of this study suggested that derivatives with free -OH (11c, 11d and 11g) and free -COOH (11h and 13a) substitutions in the triazole moiety introduced at the C-28 position significantly improved the anti-tumor activity and may be the favourable position to synthesize potent anticancer leads from BA. Introduction of a non polar alkyl groups at C-28 position (10, 12 and 14) resulted in the significant loss of the activity. Further, DAPI staining, ROS generation and wound healing experiments revealed that compound 11h induces apoptosis in HCT-116 cells.

A novel triazole derivative of betulinic acid induces extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

In an attempt to arrive at more potent cytotoxic agent than the bioactive natural product betulinic acid, influence of small structural modifications of its 1, 2, 3 triazole derivatives tethered at C-28 and both C3, C-28 using click chemistry approach has been studied. The chemically characterized triazoles have been screened for in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines HL-60, MiaPaCa-2, PC-3 and A549 which has allowed to identify triazole derivative 28{1N (4-fluoro phenyl)-1H-1, 2, 3-triazol-4-yl} methyloxy betulinic ester having better potency profile than the parent compound with IC50 values in the range of 5-7 µM. It caused disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, rendered Bcl-2 cleavage, Bax translocation and decrease Bcl-2/Bax ratio. These events are accompanied by activation of caspases -9, -3, which cleave the PARP-1. It also induces caspase-8, which is involved in extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Therefore, it induces apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Isolation, cytotoxic evaluation, and simultaneous quantification of eight bioactive secondary metabolites from Cicer microphyllum by high-performance thin-layer chromatography.

Chemical investigation of Cicer microphyllum resulted in the isolation and characterization of eight natural products viz. Stigmasterol, Oleanolic acid-3-acetate, Oleanolic acid, Biochanin A, Genistein, Pratensein, Chrysoeriol, and Luteolin. Herein, we report a novel, accurate, and cost-effective high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the simultaneous quantification of the isolated natural products on silica-gel 60F254 plates using the solvent system n-hexane/ethyl acetate/formic acid (9.0:6.5:0.8, v/v/v). Natural products were quantified after postchromatographic derivatization with ceric ammonium sulfate. The method was validated as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. All calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (r > 0.9943) within the test range. Precision was assessed by intra- and interday tests with relative standard deviations <1.82%, accuracy validation recovery 98.38-99.57% with relative standard deviations <1.00%. On quantification, Pratensein was a major constituent (0.921%). The screening for cytotoxic activity using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay resulted into identification of Luteolin as potent molecule with IC50 3.5 and 25.6 µg/mL against murine melanoma and human epidermoid carcinoma cell lines, respectively.