Modular Total Synthesis and Cell-Based Anticancer Activity Evaluation of Ouabagenin and Other Cardiotonic Steroids with Varying Degrees of Oxygenation.

A Cu(II)-catalyzed diastereoselective Michael/aldol cascade approach is used to accomplish concise total syntheses of cardiotonic steroids with varying degrees of oxygenation including cardenolides ouabagenin, sarmentologenin, 19-hydroxysarmentogenin, and 5- epi-panogenin. These syntheses enabled the subsequent structure activity relationship (SAR) studies on 37 synthetic and natural steroids to elucidate the effect of oxygenation, stereochemistry, C3-glycosylation, and C17-heterocyclic ring. Based on this parallel evaluation of synthetic and natural steroids and their derivatives, glycosylated steroids cannogenol-l-α-rhamnoside (79a), strophanthidol-l-α-rhamnoside (92), and digitoxigenin-l-α-rhamnoside (97) were identified as the most potent steroids demonstrating broad anticancer activity at 10-100 nM concentrations and selectivity (nontoxic at 3 µM against NIH-3T3, MEF, and developing fish embryos). Further analyses indicate that these molecules show a general mode of anticancer activity involving DNA-damage upregulation that subsequently induces apoptosis.

Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase by geranylated flavonoids from Paulownia tomentosa.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase are important targets to treat obesity and diabetes, due to their deep correlation with insulin and leptin signalling, and glucose regulation. The methanol extract of Paulownia tomentosa fruits showed potent inhibition against both enzymes. Purification of this extract led to eight geranylated flavonoids (1-8) displaying dual inhibition of PTP1B and α-glucosidase. The isolated compounds were identified as flavanones (1-5) and dihydroflavonols (6-8). Inhibitory potencies of these compounds varied accordingly, but most of the compounds were highly effective against PTP1B (IC50 = 1.9-8.2 µM) than α-glucosidase (IC50 = 2.2-78.9 µM). Mimulone (1) was the most effective against PTP1B with IC50 = 1.9 µM, whereas 6-geranyl-3,3',5,5',7-pentahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavane (8) displayed potent inhibition against α-glucosidase (IC50 = 2.2 µM). All inhibitors showed mixed type Ι inhibition toward PTP1B, and were noncompetitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase. This mixed type behavior against PTP1B was fully demonstrated by showing a decrease in Vmax, an increase of Km, and Kik/Kiv ratio ranging between 2.66 and 3.69.

Papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitory effects of cinnamic amides from Tribulus terrestris fruits.

Tribulus terrestris fruits are well known for their usage in pharmaceutical preparations and food supplements. The methanol extract of T. terrestris fruits showed potent inhibition against the papain-like protease (PLpro), an essential proteolylic enzyme for protection to pathogenic virus and bacteria. Subsequent bioactivity-guided fractionation of this extract led to six cinnamic amides (1-6) and ferulic acid (7). Compound 6 emerged as new compound possessing the very rare carbinolamide motif. These compounds (1-7) were evaluated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) PLpro inhibitory activity to identify their potencies and kinetic behavior. Compounds (1-6) displayed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the range 15.8-70.1 µM. The new cinnamic amide 6 was found to be most potent inhibitor with an IC50 of 15.8 µM. In kinetic studies, all inhibitors exhibited mixed type inhibition. Furthermore, the most active PLpro inhibitors (1-6) were proven to be present in the native fruits in high quantities by HPLC chromatogram and liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI/MS).

Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-antioxidant flavonoids from roots of Sophora flavescens.

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is strongly implicated as a key process in the onset of atherosclerosis. In this study, nine alkylated (C10-C5) flavonoids from Sophora flavescens were examined for their inhibitory effects on copper-induced LDL oxidation. Of the flavonoids tested, sophoraflavanone G (1), kurarinone (2), kurarinol (3), norkurarinol (4), and kuraridin (9) inhibited the generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) with IC50s of 7.9, 14.5, 22.0, 26.9, and 17.5 microM, respectively. The most potent inhibitor, compound 1, also demonstrated significant activities in complementary in vitro investigations, such as lag time (130 min at 5 microM), relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of ox-LDL (80% inhibition at 20 microM), and fragmentation of apoB-100 (inhibition of 71% at 20 microM). Analysis of the structures of these compounds reveals that a resorcinol moiety in the B-ring is strongly correlated with protection of LDL-oxidation.