Calaxanthones A-C,three new xanthones from the roots of Calophyllum calaba and the cytotoxicity

Three new xanthones, named calaxanthones A-C (1–3), along with 17 known xanthones (4–20) were isolated from the roots of Calophyllum calaba. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five cancer cell lines (KB, HeLa S-3, HT-29, MCF-7 and HepG-2). Compound 3 showed potent cytotoxicity against all the five cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.82–5.04 μM. Furthermore, compound 6 showed potent cytotoxicity against KB, HeLa S-3 and HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values of 7.06, 5.27 and 9.64 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 7 showed potent cytotoxicity against KB cell with an IC₅₀ value of 4.62 μM.     

Eudesmane and aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids from the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia erecta

Using various chromatographic separations, eight sesquiterpenoids (1–8), including one new compound 3β,5α-dihydroxyeudesma-4(15),11-diene (1), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia erecta. The structure elucidation was confirmed by spectroscopic experiments including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (A-549, HeLa and PANC-1) of all isolated compounds were evaluated by MTT-based colorimetric assays. Compound 1 exhibited selective cytotoxicity against the A549 cell line with IC₅₀ of 14.79 ± 0.91 μM.     

Antimalarial and cytotoxic constituents of Xylaria cf. cubensis PK108

Xylaria cf. cubensis PK108 was identified by its distinctive morphological characteristics and its internal transcribed spacers sequence analysis. The chromatographic separation and structural elucidation based on spectroscopic analysis of fungal crude extracts led to 10 compounds; tryptoquivaline L (1), fiscalin C (2), epi-fiscalin C (3), cytochalasin D (4), ergosterol (5), ergosterol peroxide (6), chevalone C (7), xylaranol B (8), helvolic acid (9) and cyclo-(l-Pro-l-Leu) (10). The bioassay screening showed that 4 displayed cytotoxicity against KB and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 3.25 and 5.95 μg mL^? 1. 6 exhibited cytotoxicity against NCI-H187 with an IC₅₀ value of 5.81 μg mL^? 1. 7 and 9 showed antimalarial activity with IC₅₀ values of 25.00 and 6.25 μg mL^? 1, respectively. This result establishes Xylaria as broad spectrum bioactive compound producers.     

New Ni(II) complexes involving symmetrical bidentate N,O-donor Schiff base ligands: synthesis at ambient temperature,crystal structures,electrochemical study,antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

A new series of Ni(II) complexes, [Ni(L¹)₂] (1), [Ni(L²)₂] (2), [Ni(L³)₂] (3), and [Ni(L⁴)₂] (4), were synthesized at ambient temperature. The bidentate Schiff base ligands HL^1?4 have been obtained by the condensation reaction of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 3-methoxy-2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, and 4-methoxy-2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, respectively, with 2-methoxyethylamine. The newly synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. The crystal structures of mononuclear Ni(II) complexes 2 and 3 were determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Electrochemical properties of the complexes were investigated in acetonitrile. The antioxidant properties of the Schiff base ligands and complexes were evaluated by two in vitro tests, DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power. The compounds were screened for their in vitro anticancer potential using gastric cancer cell lines by MTT assay. All ligands and complexes showed considerable cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 0.2516–5.468 μg·mL^?1). The most promising result was achieved for complex 1 with the best IC₅₀ value of 0.2516 μg·mL^?1. It was found that the proliferation rate of MKN-45 cells decreased after treatment with the complexes in a dose-dependent way.     

Carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate and two carbazole alkaloids from the stems of Clausena excavata

A carbazole-pyranocoumarin conjugate, carbazomarin B (1), and two carbazole alkaloids, 6-methoxymukonidine (2) and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbazole (3), together with 27 known compounds (4–30), were isolated from the stems of Clausena excavata. Their structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity to HuCCA-1, MOLT-3 and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 15.09–28.50 μg/mL, but none to A549 cell line. Heptaphylline (6) and nordentatin (23) were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 12.33 and 11.33, respectively, while clausine K (27) exhibited strong cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of 1.05 μg/mL, better than a standard drug (etoposide, IC₅₀ 13.40 μg/mL).     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding studies and in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum(II)-dihalogenido complexes containing bidentate chelating N-donor ligands

Platinum(II) complexes, [Pt(L_x)X₂] (1–6), where X = Br or I and L_x = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives (5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5-Mebpy), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4-Mebpy), and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline (5-NH₂phen)) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by the elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, infrared, and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹⁵Pt) 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopies, and by single-crystal X-ray analysis of [Pt(4-Mebpy)I₂] (4). All the platinum(II) complexes (1–6) were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780R, and against non-malignant MRC5 cell line. All the complexes were nontoxic up to the 50 μM concentration, although they were found to readily bind to calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA), as determined by spectrophotometric titration (K_b ≈ 10⁷ M^?1) and ethidium bromide displacement assay.     

Isolation and structural modifications of ananixanthone from Calophyllum teysmannii and their cytotoxic activities

Two naturally occurring xanthones, ananixanthone (1) and β-mangostin (2), were isolated using column chromatographic method from the n-hexane and methanol extracts of Calophyllum teysmannii, respectively. The major constituent, ananixanthone (1), was subjected to structural modifications via acetylation, methylation and benzylation yielding four new xanthone derivatives, ananixanthone monoacetate (3), ananixanthone diacetate (4), 5-methoxyananixanthone (5) and 5-O-benzylananixanthone (6). Compound 1 together with its four new derivatives were subjected to MTT assay against three cancer cell lines; SNU-1, K562 and LS174T. The results indicated that the parent compound has greater cytotoxicity capabilities against SNU-1 and K562 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.97 ± 0.11 and 2.96 ± 0.06 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 5 on the other hand exhibited better cytotoxicity against LS174T cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 5.76 ± 1.07 μg/mL.     

Cytotoxicity of an unprecedented brominated oleanolide and a new furoceramide from the Cameroonian spice,Echinops giganteus

A preliminary study on Echinops giganteus (Asteraceae) showed that the methanolic extract has interesting cytotoxicities against a panel of cancer cell lines. From this extract, a lignan, a flavonoid and a polyacetylenic thiophene identified were three times less cytotoxic than the extract. In the search of the metabolites responsible for the bioactivity, a new harvested E. giganteus was subjected to a phytochemical study using chromatographic methods. In the course of the work, two new compounds: a brominated oleanolide (1) and a tetrahydrofurano-ceramide (2) were obtained along with β-amyrin acetate (3), 2-(penta-1,3-diynyl)-5-(4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl)-thiophene (4), 2-(penta-1,3-diynyl)-5-(3,4-dihydroxybut-1-ynyl)-thiophene (5) and 4-hydroxy-2,6-di-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo-(3.3.0)octane (6). Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry data in conjunction with those reported in the literature. The cytotoxicity of 1, 2 and 5 was evaluated by employing resazurin assay against a panel of cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in range 6.12 ± 0.46–46.96 ± 3.61 μM.     

Synthesis,characterization and in vitro antitumor behavior of a vanadium(V) complex with 4′-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′2″-terpyridine

A dioxovanadium(V) complex, [VO₂(moptpy)](ClO₄) (1, moptpy = 4′-(3-methoxyphenyl)2,2′:6′2″-terpyridine), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS, UV–vis, IR, and ¹H, ¹³C, and ⁵¹V NMR. The cytotoxicity in vitro of 1 was evaluated against cancer cell lines HepG-2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), SGC-7901 (gastric carcinoma), SiHa (cervical cancer), BEL-7402 (hepatocellular), and rat PC-12 (pheochromocytoma) by the MTT method. The results demonstrated that 1 exhibits superior anticancer activity in vitro with much lower values of 50% inhibitive concentration (IC₅₀) against the selected cell lines than cisplatin, and 1 shows the highest cytotoxic activity toward SGC-7901 cells (IC₅₀ = 1.3 ± 0.1 μM) among the selected cell lines. A series of cellular morphological and staining experiments were carried out, and the results indicated that 1 can effectively induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction pathway. In addition, cellular incorporation and cell cycle analysis were also performed, and it was concluded from the experimental observations that 1 can efficiently enter into the cell nuclei, and the complex inhibits cell growth in SGC-7901 cell at G0/G1 phase.     

A new cytotoxic biflavonoid from the rhizome of Wikstroemia indica

One new chalcone-flavone biflavonoid, 3′-hydroxydaphnodorin A (1), together with 12 known biflavonoids (2–13), was isolated from the rhizome of Wikstroemia indica. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. Eight isolated compounds 1–3, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 13 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against cancer-derived cell lines Hep3B, HepG2 and CNE2, and 1 was found to possess moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 and CNE2 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 65.5 ± 11.4 and 53.6 ± 10.1 μM, respectively.     

New cytotoxic isoprenoid derivatives from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum collected from the Red Sea led to isolation of 11 isoprenoidal metabolites (1–11). A new sesquiterpenoid, 6-oxo-germacra-4(15),8,11-triene (1), a new natural cembranoid, sarcophinediol, along with two known sesquiterpenoids (2 and 3) and seven known cembranoids (5–11) was obtained. The structures of the compounds were established based on their NMR, MS, IR and UV spectral data. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity employing three cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7 and HCT116). Compounds 4 and 6 showed significant cytotoxicity towards HepG2 with IC₅₀ values of 18.8 ± 0.07 and 19.9 ± 0.02 μM; respectively. Compounds 5–7 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 9.9 ± 0.03, 2.4 ± 0.04 and 3.2 ± 0.02 μM, respectively. Compounds 1, 4 and 5 showed significant activities towards HCT116 cells with IC₅₀ values of 29.4 ± 0.03, 19.4 ± 0.02 and 25.8 ± 0.03 μM, respectively.     

New macrocyclic diterpenes from Euphorbia connata Boiss. with cytotoxic activities on human breast cancer cell lines

Acetone:chloroform (1:2) extract of the aerial parts of Euphorbia connata Boiss. (Euphorbiaceae) was investigated for its diterpenoids. This led to the isolation of one known and two new diterpenes, belonging to the pentahydroxy-13(17)-epoxy-8,10(18)-myrsinadiene and tetrahydroxy-5,6-epoxy-14-oxo-jatropha-11(E)-ene classes. The structures were elucidated based on ¹³C and ¹H NMR as well as 2D NMR, IR and MS spectra and the cytotoxicity for compounds 1–3 were evaluated by using MTT assay against two human breast cancer cell lines. Myrsinane-type compounds – 3,7,14,15-tetraacetyl-5-propanoyl-13(17)-epoxy-8,10(18)-myrsinadiene (1) and 3,7,10,14,15-pentaacetyl-5-butanoyl-13,17-epoxy-8-myrsinene (2) – exhibited moderate inhibitory effects, with IC₅₀ values of 24.53 ± 3.39 and 26.67 ± 1.41 μM against the MDA-MB cell line, and 37.73 ± 3.41 and 34.57 ± 2.12 μM against the MCF-7 cell line, respectively. Jatrophane-type diterpene – 5,6-epoxy-8,9,15-triacetyl-3-benzoyl-14-oxo-jatropha-11(E)-ene (3) – showed weak cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 55.67 ± 7.09 μM against MDA-MB, and moderate cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 24.33 ± 3.21 μM against MCF-7 cell line.     

Cytotoxic triterpene saponins from the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum

Using various chromatographic separations, sixteen compounds, including one new triterpene saponin named aegicoroside A (1), were isolated from the leaves of the Vietnamese mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods such as 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds against MCF7 (breast), HCT116 (colon), B16F10 (melanoma), and A549 (adenocarcinoma) cancer cell lines were also evaluated. Strong cytotoxicity was observed for sakurasosaponin (2) against all four cancer cell lines and for sakurasosaponin methyl ester (3) against MCF7, A549, and HCT116 cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.89 ± 0.02 to 9.86 ± 0.21 μM.     

Two new prenylated isoflavones from Maclura cochinchinensis collected in Hoa Binh province Vietnam

Two new prenylisoflavones, 3′,4′,5-trihydroxy-8-prenyl-dihydrofuran[2″,3″:7,6]isoflavone (1) and 4′,5-dihydroxy-8-prenyl-dihydrofuran[2″,3″:7,6]isoflavone (2), along with five known prenylisoflavones (3–7), benzylalcohol-4-O-β-d-glucoside (8) and two cinnamic acid esters (9, 10) were isolated from the leaves of Maclura cochinchinensis (Cudrania cochinchinensis). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of NMR (¹H-, ¹³C-NMR, HSQC, HMBC), MS spectra and comparison with the published data. Compounds 4–10 were the first time isolated from this species. Prenylisoflavones 1–4 and 6–7 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity on KB and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Compound 4 showed cytotoxic activity against both cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 26.99 and 19.95 μM, respectively. The other compounds were considered as inactive.     

A new lignan glycoside from the aerial parts and cytotoxic investigation of Uvaria rufa

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Uvaria rufa (Dunal) Blume collected from Vietnam yielded one new lignan glycoside, ufaside (1), along with six known compounds, oxoanolobine (2), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (3), catechin (4), epicatechin (5), daucosterol (6) and glutin-5-en-3-one (7). Their chemical structures were determined by using NMR, HR-MS spectroscopic analyses and in comparison with the reported data. A cytotoxic analysis of U. rufa herb extracts was performed for the first time using nine human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, LNCaP, MKN7, SW480, KB, LU-1, HepG2 and HL-60) derived from different tumour types. Of these seven constituents, compounds 2 and 3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LU-1) with IC₅₀ values of 9.22 ± 1.02 μg/mL and 10.21 ± 1.16 μg/mL, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antitumor activity of mononuclear and dinuclear ruthenium complexes

Abstract

Dinuclear ruthenium complexes [Ru₂(bpy)₄BL](ClO₄)₂ (Ru-1), where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and BL = 2,2′-((1E,1′E)-((E)-diazene-1,2-diyl-bis(2,1-phenylene))-bis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))diphenol (a bidentate bridging ligand), and mononuclear ruthenium complexes [Ru(bpy)₂L](ClO₄) (Ru-2), where L = (E)-2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were also studied. The cytotoxicity of the two complexes in vitro was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The results indicated that Ru-1 and Ru-2 exhibited significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity to human breast cancer (MCF-7), gastric cancer (SGC-7901), cervical cancer (Hela), and lung cancer (A549) tumor cell lines. Ru-1 showed excellent antitumor effects in a cellular study (IC₅₀ values of 3.61 μM for MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro). However, Ru-2 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity to Hela cells; the IC₅₀ value is 3.71 μM. The results reveal that Ru-1 and Ru-2 have obvious selectivity and might be a potential anticancer agent that could improve the efficacy of common anticancer therapies.     

DNA binding,cleavage, and cytotoxicity of binuclear phenolate nickel(II) complexes

Three binuclear phenolate complexes, [Ni₂(L¹)₂(OAc)](BPh₄)·DMF (1), [Ni₂(L²)₂(OAc)](BPh₄) (2), and [Ni₂(L³)₂(OAc)](OH)·3H₂O (3), where L¹ = 2-{[bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-methyl}-4-methyl-phenol, L² = 2-{[bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-methyl}-4-methoxy-phenol, and L³ = 2-{[bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-methyl}-4-tert-butyl-phenol), have been synthesized. Single-crystal diffraction reveals that all the metal atoms are in a distorted octahedral geometry. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have been investigated by UV–vis absorption, fluorescence emission, and circular dichroism spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. Furthermore, DNA cleavage mechanism shows that the complexes may be capable to promote DNA cleavage through oxidative DNA damage pathway, which is indicative of the involvement of hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, or singlet oxygen-like entity in the cleavage process. Cytotoxicity studies on the Hela and MCF-7 cancer cell lines show that complexes 1–3 exhibit excellent activity toward the tested tumor cell lines with respect to the standard drug carboplatin, revealing that they have the potential to act as effective metal-based anticancer drugs.     

Tetra- and Triarylantimony Fluorobenzoates: Synthesis and Structures

The reactions of pentaarylantimony (Ar₅Sb, where Ar = Ph or p-Tol) with triarylantimony bis(pentafluorobenzoate) and triarylantimony bis(3,4,5-trifluorobenzoate) in toluene afforded tetraarylantimony pentafluoro- and 3,4,5-trifluorobenzoates in up to 90% yields. The starting triarylantimony bis(pentafluorobenzoates) and bis(3,4,5-trifluorobenzoates) were prepared in ether by oxidative addition involving triarylstibine, hydrogen peroxide, and pentafluorobenzoic or 3,4,5-trifluorobenzoic acid, respectively, in up to 98% yields. Tetra-p-tolylantimony pentafluorobenzoate and triphenylantimony bis(pentafluorobenzoate) were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The coordination polyhedron of the Sb atoms is a distorted trigonal bipyramid with axial carboxy groups. In these compounds, the Sb atoms and carbonyl O atoms are linked by intramolecular contacts, which are especially pronounced in the latter complex (the Sb···O(=C) distances are 3.377(3) and 2.943(2), 3.167(2) Å, respectively).     

A new labdane diterpene from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum

A new labdane diterpene, (Z)-12,14-labdadien-15(16)-olide-17-oic acid (1), and a new natural cadinane sesquiterpene, 4-isopropyl-6-methyl-1-naphthalenemethanol (2), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum, together with three other products, galangin (3), kaempferol (4) and quercetin (5). Their structures were elucidated by using extensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no remarkable cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀>50 μg mL^? 1.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological activity of five new mixed-ligand palladium(II) complexes with ethylenediamine and 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-amino acid dianion

Five new palladium(II) complexes with 4-toluenesulfonyl-L-amino acid dianion and en, [Pd(en)(TsserNO)] (1), [Pd(en)(TsglyNO)] (2), [Pd(en)(TsalaNO)]?·?1.5H₂O (3), [Pd(en)(TsleuNO)]?·?H₂O (4), and [Pd(en)(TspheNO)]?·?2H₂O (5), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, ¹H NMR, and mass spectrometry. Crystal structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The cytotoxicity was tested by MTT and SRB assays. The results indicate 1–5 exert cytotoxic effects against HL-60, Bel-7402, BGC-823, and KB cell lines and 5 displays the best cytotoxicity. The structure–activity relationships suggest that both amino acid and N-containing ligands have important effects on cytotoxicity.