Synthesis and Bioactivity of Carbohydrate Derivatives of Indigo, Its Isomers and Heteroanalogues

N-Glycosides of indigo, indirubin, and isoindigo: blue, red, and yellow sugars and their cancerostatic activity

Indigo, indirubin, and isoindigo derivatives have been used for centuries as pigments. Since the 1990s, a new aspect of the chemistry of this type of compounds is their activity against various types of cancer. N-Glycosides of indigo, indirubin, and isoindigo, blue, red, and yellow sugars, turned out to be of special interest because of their high cancerostatic activity and structural novelty. The present article provides an account on the synthesis and anticancer activity of these compounds.

Theoretical characterization and biological activity investigation of indirubins, cyclin dependent kinases inhibitors

Up to now, significant research efforts have been directed towards investigating indirubin and its derivatives as potential candidates for developing new compounds with multiple biological activities. In the present work, natural indirubin and numerous of its chemical derivatives referred to as indirubins have been investigated computationally using DFT method with the B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) level of theory, in order to reveal structure- biological activity relationship. We started with a structural properties description. Results analysis indicated that extra interaction sites were provided through the set of substitutions in compounds (1): Indirubin-3'-monoxime, (2): Indirubin-5-sulfonic acid, (3): 5-Nitro-indirubinoxime, (4): 5'-OH-5-nitro-indirubinoxime (AGM130), (5): 7-Bromo-5'-carboxyindirubin-3'-oxime, and (6): 7 BIO and consequently, extra hydrogen bonds may be formed with the active sites of molecular targets, such as GSK-3, CDKs, and Aurora kinases, as well as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Subsequently, to get more information on the electronic properties of indirubin and its analogues, HOMO, LUMO, Egap, and further electronic parameters were carried out. The indirubin derivatives showed an easier interaction with its environment than indirubin, the parent compound. The UV-Visible spectra of indirubin and compounds 1-6 were also produced using TD-DFT with B3LYP functional and 6-311 + G(2d,p) basis set. The relationship between absorption and chemical structure is discussed. Two phototoxic brominated compounds showed important absorption spectra modifications. It was also found that the main absorption bands of all compounds derived from π→π*(HOMO→LUMO) transitions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Indirubin and Indirubin Derivatives for Counteracting Proliferative Diseases

Indirubin is the active component of Danggui Longhui Wan, a traditional Chinese medicine formulation. The encouraging clinical results from the 1980s obtained in chronic myelocytic leukemia patients treated with indirubin stimulated numerous studies on this compound. These investigations explored the use of indirubin in different types of cancer and reported the synthesis of novel derivatives with improved chemical and pharmacokinetic properties. In this paper, we review the impressive progress that has been made in elucidating the mechanistic understanding of how indirubin and its derivatives affect physiological and pathophysiological processes, mainly by inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. Furthermore, we survey the therapeutic use of these compounds in combating proliferative diseases such as cancer, restenosis, and psoriasis.

Palladium-catalyzed glycosylation: novel synthetic approach to diverse N-heterocyclic glycosides

An efficient and highly stereoselective method for the construction of N-heterocyclic glycosides is reported. This method is based on a palladium-catalyzed allylation which proceeded to provide N-heterocyclic glycosyl compounds in good-to-excellent yields with β- or α-selectivity. Various N-nucleophiles were examined for this reaction and selected N-glycosyl isatin substrates were further elaborated to bis-indole sugars which have potential as antiproliferative drugs.

Synthesis and bioactivity of N-glycosylated 3-(2-oxo-2-arylethylidene)-indolin-2-ones

N-Glycosyl-3-alkylideneoxindoles, N-glycosylated 3-(2-oxo-2-arylethylidene)indolin-2-ones, were prepared by reaction of isatin-N-glycosides with substituted acetophenones.

Targets, structures, and recent approaches in malignant melanoma chemotherapy

Malignant metastatic melanoma is one of the oncologic diseases with the worst clinical prognosis, due primarily to resistance phenomena against chemotherapeutic agents in current use. However, over the last few years, characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of the disease has contributed to elucidation of the main pathways by which tissue invasion and metastasis can occur. More importantly, the identification of abnormalities in signaling cascades in melanoma cells has facilitated new therapeutic approaches against malignant melanoma through the design of highly potent and selective drugs with low associated toxicity. Ultimately, recognition of the restricted applicability of new chemotherapies in certain genetic contexts has led to significant improvements in the results of clinical trials, anticipating the existing need for investment in personalized therapies, and taking into account the molecular alterations observed in tumors. Although significant advances have been made in terms of extending the median overall survival rate and improving the quality of life for patients, the mechanisms that compromise in vivo drug efficacy remain poorly understood, particularly those concerning therapeutic resistance phenomena. This review summarizes recently validated targets from the perspective of the medicinal chemistry carried out in the design of the most promising structures.

2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-(3-Hydroxypropenyl)-7-Methoxybenzofuran, a Novel Ailanthoidol Derivative, Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effect through Downregulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated RAW 264.7 Cells

We reported that ailanthoidol, a neolignan from Zanthoxylum ailanthoides and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, inhibited inflammatory reactions by macrophages and protected mice from endotoxin shock. We examined the anti-inflammatory activity of six synthetic ailanthoidol derivatives (compounds 1-6). Among them, compound 4, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropenyl)-7-methoxybenzofuran, had the lowest IC50 value concerning nitric oxide (NO) release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Compound 4 suppressed the generation of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induced by LPS, and inhibited the release of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines from RAW264.7 cells. The underlying mechanism of compound 4 on anti-inflammatory action was correlated with the down-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and activator protein-1 activation. Compound 4 is potentially an effective functional chemical candidate for the prevention of inflammatory diseases.

Palladium-catalyzed dual C-H or N-H functionalization of unfunctionalized indole derivatives with alkenes and arenes

This review highlights the development of palladium-catalyzed C-H and N-H functionalization reactions involving indole derivatives. These procedures require unactivated starting materials and are respectful of the basic principle of sustainable chemistry tied to atom economy.

Exploring the anticancer activity of functionalized isoindigos: synthesis, drug-like potential, mode of action and effect on tumor-induced xenografts

Meisoindigo has been used as an indirubin substitute for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for several years. In view of its poor solubility and erratic absorption, several investigations have focused on developing analogues with more desirable physicochemical profiles. Here, we investigated the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of meisoindigo with respect to its antiproliferative activity on leukemic K562 cells and found that appending a phenalkyl side chain onto the lactam NH resulted in analogues that retained good activity. Furthermore, analogues in which the phenyl ring was substituted with a basic heterocycle were significantly more soluble than meisoindigo while retaining acceptable antiproliferative profiles. The most promising analogue (E)-1-(2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-[3,3'-biindolinylidene]-2,2'-dione (5-4) is more potent than meisoindigo across a panel of malignant cells, with at least 40 times greater solubility than meisoindigo, little or no tendency to aggregate in solution and capable of significantly extending the lifespans of animals with K562 induced xenografts. Mechanistically, it induced apoptotic cell death and disrupted the progression of K562 cells from the G(1) to G(2) phase. Taken together, our findings highlighted the feasibility of addressing the physicochemical deficits of the isoindigo scaffold by systematic modifications which was achieved without overt loss of growth inhibitory activity.