A review of steroids from Sarcophyton species

This review reports the structural diversity of steroids from Sarcophyton species based on literature from the beginning of marine steroid research until now. There are 65 compounds studied from eight species. Most of them are polyhydroxy-type steroids of C-27–C-31 carbon skeleton. Their biological activities are highly diverse ranging from cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic to antiosteoporosis properties.     

Synthesis, cytotoxic effect, and structure-activity relationship of Pd(II) complexes with coumarin derivatives

We report the influence of the substituent at the N atom of the ligands on the synthesis, biological activity, and stability of Pd(II) complexes of the general formula PdL(2). The compounds adopt a cis or trans configuration with respect to the substituent at the nitrogen atom. Sterically hindered substituents promote the formation of trans isomers, whereas when the nitrogen atom is unsubstituted, cis isomers are formed. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopies, and electrospray mass spectrometry. The complexes were also studied using X-ray diffraction and computational DFT methods. Both complexes cis-3a and trans-3c exhibit square-planar geometries around the Pd(II) atom. The cytotoxic effects of these complexes were examined on two human leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and NALM-6. Pd complex cis-3a showed significant cytotoxic activity. The effects exhibited by this complex were comparable to those reported for carboplatin. Loigand 2a was not cytotoxic. Computational analysis carried out at the PB/B3LYP/LACVP**//mPW1PW91/LanL2DZ level showed excellent correlation between the energy difference of the cis and trans isomers and the cytotoxic activity, rendering computations a useful predictive tool for the design of new drugs.     

Polychlorinated androstanes from the burrowing sponge Cliona nigricans

Two new steroidal derivatives, named clionastatins A and B, have been isolated from the burrowing sponge Cliona nigricans. These molecules are tri-and tetrachlorinated androstane derivatives, respectively, and they represent the first polyhalogenated steroids found in a natural organism, either marine or terrestrial, and the first examples of halogenated androstanes in nature. Both clionastatins proved to be potently cytotoxic.     

Synthesis and properties of allenic natural products and pharmaceuticals

Nowadays, about 150 natural products comprising an allenic or cumulenic structure are known. The chemistry of these compounds has turned out to be a very attractive and prolific area of interest: advances in the isolation and characterization of new allenic natural products have led to the establishment of efficient synthetic procedures which in many cases also open up an access to enantiomerically pure target molecules. Inspired by the intriguing biological activities of many allenic natural products, allene moieties are now systematically introduced in pharmacologically active classes of compounds (steroids, prostaglandins, amino acids, nucleosides). The functionalized allenes thus obtained often exhibit impressive activities as mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors, cytotoxic, or antiviral agents. A prerequisite for further developments in this field is the efficient stereoselective synthesis of allene derivatives.     

具有抗肿瘤活性甾体氮芥类化合物的研究进展

本文按照甾体的甾核结构对甾体氮芥化合物进行分类,综述了近年来新合成的甾体氮芥类化合物及其衍生物的抗肿瘤活性及研究进展,并对此方面的发展趋势和应用前景作了展望。     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel steroid-linked nitrogen mustards

Two novel steroid-linked nitrogen mustard conjugates 1a and 1b were synthesized by using estrogenic acid 4 coupled with aniline mustard 8 and phenol mustard 13 in an esterification or amidation procedure. Preliminary cytotoxic screening on cancer cell lines in vitro showed that, the steroid-ester linked nitrogen mustard conjugate la exhibited obvious increasing of activities.     

Tectona grandis (teak) – A review on its phytochemical and therapeutic potential

Tectona grandis Linn (Teak), is locally known as Sagwan, belongs to Lamiaceae family. It is one of the most valuable timber in the world, due to its beautiful surface and its resistance to termite and fungal damage. The main active ingredient compounds that are responsible for these action are tectoquinone, lapachol and deoxylapachol. Naphthoquinones, anthraquinones and isoprenoid quinones are abundant metabolites in teak. In addition to these, teak contains several other phytochemicals such as triterpenoids, steroids, lignans, fatty esters and phenolic compounds. Pharmacologically, the plant has been investigated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, cytotoxic, analgesic, hypoglycemic, wound healing and antiplasmodial activities. The present review highlights the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of teak.     

Attractive natural products with strained cyclopropane and/or cyclobutane ring systems

The strained cyclopropane and/or cyclobutane subunits occurred in many complex natural products including terpenoids, steroids and alkaloids. Natural products with cyclopropane and/or cyclobutane motifs not only furnished fascinating structures, but also exhibited versatile biological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-HIV, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunosuppressive effects. This review covered a large array of structurally unique natural products with strained cyclopropane and/or cyclobutane motifs and summarized their structural features, distributions, biological activities, as well as biogenetic considerations.     

Collision‐induced dissociation of 3‐keto anabolic steroids and related compounds after electrospray ionization. Considerations for structural elucidation

The collision‐induced dissociation of forty‐one 3‐keto anabolic steroids and related compounds has been studied using both triple quadrupole (QqQ) and hybrid quadrupole‐time of flight (QTOF) instruments. Due to the complexity of the product ion spectra of these analytes, which generate a large number of ions, only two specific regions were studied in depth: the product ions near the precursor ion (m/z ≥M–100) and the most abundant product ions at a collision energy of 30 eV. Accurate mass measurements were used in order to obtain an unequivocal assignment of the empirical formula and the origin of each selected product ion. Analytes have been divided into eight groups according to the number and position of double bonds and the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl‐ or nitrogen‐containing rings. A correlation between the steroid structure and the product ions obtained has been postulated. The application of these correlations can be useful in the elucidation of feasible structures for unknown steroids and/or their metabolites. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Approaches to Total Synthesis of Heterocyclic Steroidal Systems

In heterocyclic steroids the carbon atoms of the steroid skeleton (positions I to 17) are replaced in part by hetero atoms. The term generally denotes compounds containing one or two nitrogen, oxygen, and/or sulfur atoms. The part of the molecule containing the hetero atom is either introduced as a preformed unit or is constructed by stepwise synthesis. The examples given in the present article contain the hetero atoms in ring A, ring B, between rings A and B, and/or between rings C and D.     

Recent developments in the use of isotope ratio mass spectrometry in sports drug testing

According to the annual report of the World Anti-Doping Agency, steroids are the most frequently detected class of doping agents. Detecting the misuse of endogenously occurring steroids, i.e. steroids such as testosterone that are produced naturally by humans, is one of the most challenging issues in doping control analysis. The established thresholds for urinary concentrations or concentration ratios such as the testosterone/epitestosterone quotient are sometimes inconclusive owing to the large biological variation in these parameters.     

Stoloniferone-a, -b, -c,and -d,four new cytotoxic steroids from the okinawan soft coral clavularia viridis

Four new cytotoxic steroids named stoloniferone-a (7a), -b (7b), -c (7c), and -d (7d) were isolated from the stoloniferan Okinawan soft coral Clavularia viridis and their absolute stereostructures were elucidated.     

Application of over-run thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography in the separation of closely related C19O2 steroids.

An improved method for the separation of epimeric C19O2 steroids and their related allylic alcohols is described. In this method, the steroids are first separated by over-run thin-layer chromatography, and the unresolved groups are further analysed as free or as trimethylsilyl ether derivatives by gas-liquid chromatography. The behaviour of twenty-one C19O2 steroids was investigated by thin-layer chromatography in four systems and by gas-liquid chromatography in four liquid phases. All steroid pairs of similar polarity were resolved by the combination of these two fractionation procedures.     

Mass spectrometric detection of and similarities between 1-androgens

Regularly new anabolic steroids appear on the black market. In most cases these substances are marketed on websites or are confiscated during inspections. 1,(5alpha)-Androstene-17beta-ol-3-one, also known as 1-testosterone, is one of these substances presented to body-builders as a nutritional supplement or a pro-hormone. 1-Testosterone closely resembles the natural hormone testosterone except for a 1,2-double bound instead of a 4,5-double bound. 1-Androstene-3beta,17beta-diol is transformed into 1-testosterone after oral administration. 1-Testosterone, 1-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol and some other related 'new' anabolic steroids were studied with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS2) methods. Similarities in spectra to known analytes, which may lead to pitfalls in the interpretation of the derivatised analytes, are discussed.     

THE PHOTOTOXICITY OF PHENYLHEPTATRIYNE: OXYGEN-DEPENDENT HEMOLYSIS OF HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES AND INACTIVATION OF Escherichia coli

Abstract— Phenylheptatriyne (PHT) plus near-ultraviolet light(320–400 nm; NUV) hemolyzed human erythrocytes in an oxygen dependent manner. When the phototoxicity of PHT plus NUV was tested with a series of Escherichia coli strains carrying all four possible combinations of genes controlling excision proficiency ( uvrA6 vs uvrA ⁺) and catalase activity (HPII, katF vs katF *), the membrane was found to be an important lethal target. Consistent with this observation. PHT plus NUV did not induce histidine independent ( his-4 ⁺) mutations in the four tester strains (RT7h-RT10h). Using tester strain RT10h, it was shown that there was no inactivation by PHT plus NUV in nitrogen. Results of experiments with an E. coli fatty acid auxotroph (K1060) treated with PHT plus NUV are also consistent with membrane proteins being the chief targets for attack. Radicals were formed during the photolysis of PHT plus NUV in aqueous solutions, both in the presence of air and under nitrogen. Since PHT plus NUV did not hemolyze erythrocytes or inactivate E. coli cells under nitrogen, these radicals are not cytotoxic.     

Ionization of anabolic steroids by adduct formation in liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry

The ionization of 46 anabolic steroids has been studied. The absence of basic or acidic moieties in most of these analytes makes their direct ionization as [M + H]+ by atmospheric pressure interfaces difficult. The formation of adducts with different components of the mobile phase has been found to be an efficient way to ionize anabolic steroids by electrospray. Different mobile phases using methanol (MeOH) or acetonitrile as organic solvent and HCOOH, Na+ or NH4+ as additives have been tested to favor the adduct formation. A direct correlation between the chemical structure of the anabolic steroid and the possibility to ionize it in a particular chromatographic condition has been found. According to their ionization, anabolic steroids can be divided into seven different groups depending on both the nature and the relative position of their functional groups. The formation of different adducts such as [M + Na + MeOH]+ or [M + H + CH3 CN - H2O]+ is required in order to ionize some of these groups and the optimal mobile phase composition for each group of anabolic steroids is proposed. Despite the ionization limitations due to their chemical structure, most of tested anabolic steroids could be ionized using the adduct formation approach.     

Nutritional supplements cross-contaminated and faked with doping substances

Since 1999 several groups have analyzed nutritional supplements with mass spectrometric methods (GC/MS, LC/MS/MS) for contaminations and adulterations with doping substances. These investigations showed that nutritional supplements contained prohibited stimulants as ephedrines, caffeine, methylenedioxymetamphetamie and sibutramine, which were not declared on the labels. An international study performed in 2001 and 2002 on 634 nutritional supplements that were purchased in 13 different countries showed that about 15% of the nonhormonal nutritional supplements were contaminated with anabolic-androgenic steroids (mainly prohormones). Since 2002, also products intentionally faked with high amounts of 'classic' anabolic steroids such as metandienone, stanozolol, boldenone, dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone, oxandrolone etc. have been detected on the nutritional supplement market. These anabolic steroids were not declared on the labels either. The sources of these anabolic steroids are probably Chinese pharmaceutical companies, which sell bulk material of anabolic steroids. In 2005 vitamin C, multivitamin and magnesium tablets were confiscated, which contained cross-contaminations of stanozolol and metandienone. Since 2002 new 'designer' steroids such as prostanozol, methasterone, androstatrienedione etc. have been offered on the nutritional supplement market. In the near future also cross-contaminations with these steroids are expected. Recently a nutritional supplement for weight loss was found to contain the beta2-agonist clenbuterol. The application of such nutritional supplements is connected with a high risk of inadvertent doping cases and a health risk. For the detection of new 'designer' steroids in nutritional supplements, mass spectrometric strategies (GC/MS, LC/MS/MS) are presented.     

Total steroid profiling with capillary GC. Details on sample preparation

The accuracy and reproducibility of steroid and steroid conjugate determinations using capillary GC are evaluated. It is possible to analyze many unconjugated steroids, steroid sulfates, and some steroid glucuronides simultaneously, simply by using group fractionation based on successive hydrolysis and solvent extraction steps. However, a reliable determination of corticosteroid glucuronides can only be obtained after previous isolation of the glucuronides as a group, with ion exchange chromatography. In complex chromatograms, the combined use of nitrogen specific detection and flame ionization detection facilitates peak identification.     

Separation of anabolic steroids by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Summary The separation of seven analogous anabolic steroids was studied by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The retention order was found to be dependent on polarity. All of these steroids were well separated by the addition of organic modifiers to the separation buffer. Of the organic modifiers tested, 1-propanol gave the best separation, better than methanol or acetonitrile.