scholarly journals Self-assembly of an anion receptor with metal-dependent kinase inhibition and potent in vitro anti-cancer properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Allison ◽  
Jaroslaw Bryk ◽  
Christopher J. Clemett ◽  
Robert A. Faulkner ◽  
Michael Ginger ◽  
...  

AbstractOne topical area of supramolecular chemistry is the binding of anionic species but despite the importance of anions in diverse cellular processes and for cancer development, anion receptors or ‘binders’ have received little attention as potential anti-cancer therapeutics. Here we report self-assembling trimetallic cryptands (e.g. [L2(Metal)3]6+ where Metal = Cu2+, Zn2+ or Mn2+) which can encapsulate a range of anions and which show metal-dependent differences in chemical and biological reactivities. In cell studies, both [L2Cu3]6+ and [L2Zn3]6+ complexes are highly toxic to a range of human cancer cell lines and they show significant metal-dependent selective activity towards cancer cells compared to healthy, non-cancerous cells (by up to 2000-fold). The addition of different anions to the complexes (e.g. PO43ˉ, SO42ˉ or PhOPO32ˉ) further alters activity and selectivity allowing the activity to be modulated via a self-assembly process. The activity is attributed to the ability to either bind or hydrolyse phosphate esters and mechanistic studies show differential and selective inhibition of multiple kinases by both [L2Cu3]6+ and [L2Zn3]6+ complexes but via different mechanisms.

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67
Author(s):  
Yepeng Luan ◽  
Jinyi Liu ◽  
Jianjun Gao ◽  
Jinhua Wang

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality have been increasing and cancer is still the leading cause of death all over the world. Despite the enormous progress in cancer treatment, many patients died of ineffective chemotherapy and drug resistance. Therefore, the design and development of anti-cancer drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity is still one of the most challenging tasks. Tricyclic heterocycles, such as phenothiazine, are always important sources of scaffolds for anti-cancer drug discovery. Methods: In this work, ten new urea-containing derivatives of phenothiazine coupled with different kinds of amine motifs at the endpoint through a three carbon long spacer were designed and synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated and confirmed by 1H NMR and HRMS. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their antitumor activity in vitro against the proliferation of PC-3 cells, and the compounds with best potency entered further cytotoxicity evaluations against other 22 human tumor cell lines. Mechanism was also studied. Results: From all data, it showed that among all 10 target compounds, TTi-2 showed the best effect in inhibiting the proliferation of 23 human cancer cell lines while TTi-2 without obvious inhibitory effect on normal cell. Furthermore, our results also showed that TTi-2 could inhibit migration, invasion and colony formation of MDA-MB-231 cells. Finally, TTi-2 can induce arrest of cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and cell apoptosis by activating the caspase 3 activity. Conclusion: All these results suggested that TTi-2 might be used as a promising lead compound for anticancer drug development.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1077
Author(s):  
Gabriele Carullo ◽  
Sarah Mazzotta ◽  
Adrian Koch ◽  
Kristin M. Hartmann ◽  
Oliver Friedrich ◽  
...  

Nowadays, the beneficial role of a healthy lifestyle, particularly emphasizing the quality of foods and cancer management, is accepted worldwide. Polyphenols and oleic acid play a key role in this context, but are still scarcely used as anti-cancer agents due to their bio-accessibility limits. Therefore, we aimed to synthesize a set of new oleoyl-hybrids of quercetin, morin, pinocembrin, and catechin to overcome the low bioavailability of polyphenols, throughout a bio-catalytic approach using pancreatic porcine lipase as a catalyst. The in vitro assays, using a wide panel of human cancer cell lines showed, mainly for two novel regioisomer oleoyl-hybrids of quercetin, a remarkable increase in apoptotic cell populations. We suggested that the DNA damage shown as ɣH2AX signals might be the major cause of apoptotic cell death. Finally, we demonstrated convincing data about two novel polyphenol-based hybrids displaying a highly selective anti-cancer cytotoxicity and being superior compared to their reference/parental compounds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (41) ◽  
pp. 6910-6925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantina Papakosta ◽  
Maria-Eleni Grafakou ◽  
Christina Barda ◽  
Ioannis V. Kostopoulos ◽  
Ourania Tsitsilonis ◽  
...  

Background: The genus Achillea L. is rich in bioactive sesquiterpenes and flavonoids; most of the studied species exhibit several biological activities and are used as emmenagogue, wound healing and analgesic agents. Some species are also used in local folklore medicine. Objective: Following a literature survey, we discuss the anti-cancer properties of Achillea species, taking into consideration ethnopharmacological data on their use in traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer. In addition, we screened extracts and isolated secondary metabolites from A. coarctata for cytotoxicity, upon information based on local traditional medicine. The plant was collected in Kozani (Northern Greece), where it is locally used for treating gastrointestinal disorders, including stomach cancer. Methods: A selection of the relevant data was performed through a search in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases. In addition, extracts and isolated compounds from A. coarctata were tested for their in vitro activity against the human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HeLa. Conclusion: The genus Achillea L. is a valuable source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The most significant outcome of the investigation of medicinal plants is the documentation and the assessment of the traditional information and its use and perspectives in the light of modern pharmacology.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (03) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu-Yan Sun ◽  
Yan-Ping Zheng ◽  
Dong-Hai Lin ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Feng Zhao ◽  
...  

Furanodiene is a sesquiterpene extracted from the essential oil of the rhizome of Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. Chen et C. Ling (Wen Ezhu). Furanodiene is the primary component in Wen Ezhu's essential oil, accounting for more than 20% by weight. In vitro, MTT assay was used to compare the inhibitory effects of furanodiene and Wen Ezhu's essential oil on 11 human cancer cell lines. Compared to the essential oil, furanodiene showed stronger growth inhibitions on Hela, Hep-2, HL-60, PC3, SGC-7901 and HT-1080 cells with IC50 between 0.6–4.8 μg/ml. In vivo, furanodiene was also found to exhibit inhibitory effects on the growth of uterine cervical (U14) and sarcoma 180 (Sl80) tumors in mice. Our data suggests that furanodiene, an active component from the essential oil of Wen Ezhu, possesses efficacy against uterine cervical cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (25) ◽  
pp. 8466-8475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aderonke Ajibola Adeyemo ◽  
Abhijith Shettar ◽  
Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Paturu Kondaiah ◽  
Partha Sarathi Mukherjee

Four organometallic η6-arene Ru(ii) architectures (MA1–MA4) have been reported. In vitro anticancer activity of the architectures against human cancer cell lines showed good cytotoxicity where the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is responsible for the cell death.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tran Khac Vu ◽  
Bach Xuan Nguyen ◽  
Linh Nguyen Pham Duy ◽  
Thuc Bao Nguyen Truong ◽  
Anh Tuan Phung ◽  
...  

Background: In this study, two novel hybrid series of artemisinin and quinazolinones were synthesized and evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines, including SKLu-1 (lung cancer), MCF- 7 (breast cancer). The bio-assay results indicated that most of the target compounds exhibited cytotoxic activities against both human cancer cell lines tested, and seemed to be more cytotoxic toward the breast (MCF-7) cancer cells than lung (SKLu-1) cancer cells. Among the synthesized artemisinin hybrids, the compound 13d containing a quinazolinone conjugated system exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against the SKLu-1 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 1.62 and 0.77 µM, respectively. Objective: This study aims at developing novel hybrids of artemisinin and quinazolinones as anti-cancer agents. Method: A series of novel hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines, including SKLu-1 and MCF-7 using SRB method. Results : All thirteen hybrids of artemisinin with quinazolinone exhibited cytotoxic activity against two tested cancer cell lines, in which the compound 13d exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against the SKLu-1 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 1.62 and 0.77 µM, respectively. Conclusion: The research results suggest that some compounds could be considered as leads for future design of hybrids and have the potential for further studies in the field of anti-cancer agent development.


Molecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Abdelhakim Bouyahya ◽  
Aicha El Allam ◽  
Ikrame Zeouk ◽  
Douae Taha ◽  
Gokhan Zengin ◽  
...  

Grifolin is a volatile compound contained in essential oils of several medicinal plants. Several studies show that this substance has been the subject of numerous pharmacological investigations, which have yielded interesting results. Grifolin demonstrated beneficial effects for health via its multiple pharmacological activities. It has anti-microbial properties against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In addition, grifolin exhibited remarkable anti-cancer effects on different human cancer cells. The anticancer action of this molecule is related to its ability to act at cellular and molecular levels on different checkpoints controlling the signaling pathways of human cancer cell lines. Grifolin can induce apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and senescence in these cells. Despite its major pharmacological properties, grifolin has only been investigated in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, further investigations concerning pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic tests are required for any possible pharmaceutical application of this substance. Moreover, toxicological tests and other investigations involving humans as a study model are required to validate the safety and clinical applications of grifolin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1241-1249
Author(s):  
Hong-Chuan Liu ◽  
Li-Ming Qiao ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Zhao-Bao Xiang ◽  
Hai-Sheng Chen ◽  
...  

Background: Rabdosia japonica has been historically used in China as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of cancer, hepatitis, and gastricism. Glaucocalyxin A (GLA), an ent-kaurene diterpene isolated from Rabdosia japonica, is one of the main active ingredients showing potent inhibitory effects against several types of tumor cells. To the best of our knowledge, studies regarding the structural modification and Structure- Activity Relations (SAR) of this compound have not yet been reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to discover more potent derivatives of GLA and investigate their SAR and cytotoxicity mechanisms. Methods: Novel 7-O- and 14-O-derivatives of GLA were synthesized by condensation of acids or acyl chloride. The anti-tumor activities of these derivatives against various human cancer cell lines were evaluated in vitro by MTT assays. Apoptosis assays of compound 17 (7,14-diacylation product) were performed on A549 and HL-60 cells by flow cytometry and TUNNEL. The acute toxicity of this compound was tested on mice, at the dose of 300mg per kg body weight. Results: Seventeen novel 7-O- and 14-O-derivatives of GLA (1-17) were synthesized. These compounds showed potent cytotoxicity against the tested cancer cell lines, and almost all of them were found to be more cytotoxic than GLA and oridonin. Of the synthesized derivatives, compound 17 presented the greatest cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 0.26μM and 1.10μM in HL-60 and CCRF-CEM cells, respectively. Furthermore, this compound induced weak apoptosis of A549 cells but showed great potential in stimulating the apoptosis of HL- 60 cells. Acute toxicity assays indicated that compound 17 is relatively safer. Conclusion: The results reported herein indicate that the synthesized GLA derivatives exhibited greater cytotoxicity against leukemia cells than against other types of tumors. In particular, 7,14-diacylation product of GLA was found to be an effective anti-tumor agent. However, the cytotoxicity mechanism of this product in A549 cells is expected to be different than that in other tumor cell lines. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 3923
Author(s):  
Adel A.-H. Abdel-Rahman ◽  
Amira K. F. Shaban ◽  
Ibrahim F. Nassar ◽  
Dina S. EL-Kady ◽  
Nasser S. M. Ismail ◽  
...  

New pyridine, pyrazoloyridine, and furopyridine derivatives substituted with naphthyl and thienyl moieties were designed and synthesized starting from 6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2-oxo-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile (1). The chloro, methoxy, cholroacetoxy, imidazolyl, azide, and arylamino derivatives were prepared to obtain the pyridine-−C2 functionalized derivatives. The derived pyrazolpyridine-N-glycosides were synthesized via heterocyclization of the C2-thioxopyridine derivative followed by glycosylation using glucose and galactose. The furopyridine derivative 14 and the tricyclic pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidine 15 were prepared via heterocyclization of the ester derivative followed by a reaction with formamide. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their ability to in vitro inhibit the CDK2 enzyme. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested against four different human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549). The CDK2/cyclin A2 enzyme inhibitory results revealed that pyridone 1, 2-chloro-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)nicotinonitrile (4), 6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-amine (8), S-(3-cyano-6-(naphthaen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl) 2-chloroethanethioate (11), and ethyl 3-amino-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)furo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (14) are among the most active inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.57, 0.24, 0.65, 0.50, and 0.93 µM, respectively, compared to roscovitine (IC50 0.394 μM). Most compounds showed significant inhibition on different human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549) with IC50 ranges of 31.3–49.0, 19.3–55.5, 22.7–44.8, and 36.8–70.7 μM, respectively compared to doxorubicin (IC50 40.0, 64.8, 24.7 and 58.1 µM, respectively). Furthermore, a molecular docking study suggests that most of the target compounds have a similar binding mode as a reference compound in the active site of the CDK2 enzyme. The structural requirements controlling the CDK2 inhibitory activity were determined through the generation of a statistically significant 2D-QSAR model.


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