Mechanism of action of novel naphthofuranquinones on rat liver microsomal peroxidation

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of proliferation inhibitory activity of novel L-shaped ortho-quinone analogs as anticancer agents

In this study, we present the design and synthesis of novel fully synthetic L-shaped ortho-quinone analogs with tanshinone IIA as the lead compoud, which is a molecule with numerous pharmacological benefits and potential to treat life-threatening diseases, such as cancer and viral infections. 24 L-shaped ortho-quinone analogs were designed and synthesized via click chemistry and introduced 1,2,3-triazole at the C-2 terminal of the furan ring. The cytotoxicity of these analogs toward different cancer cell lines was investigated in vitro. The new TD compounds showed potent inhibitory activities toward prostate cancer (PC3), leukemia (K562), breast cancer (MDA-231), lung cancer (A549), and cervical cancer (Hela) cell lines. Among them, TD1, TD11, and TD17 showed excellent broad-spectrum cytotoxic effects on five cancer cell lines by inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle phase. Besides, TD1, TD11, and TD17 could target-bind with NQO1 protein in the prostate cancer cells PC3 leukemia cells K562. The results showed that removing the methyl group at C-3 and introducing 1,2,3-triazoles at the C-2 terminal of the furan ring were effective strategies for improving the broad-spectrum anticancer activity of L-shaped ortho-quinone analogs.

Loach embryos prooxidant-antioxidant status under the influence of amide derivatives of 1,4-naphthoquinone

The mechanisms of disorders in cell functions induced by 1,4-naphthoquinone amide derivatives are not clarified yet. The article is dedicated to the study of features of these substances influence on loach Misgurnus fossilis L. embryos pro/antioxidant homeostasis during early embryogenesis. The aim of this work was to study the effect of 2-chloro-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-chloro-3-(3-oxo-3-(piperidine-1-yl)propylamine)-1,4-naphthoquinone (FO-1), 2-chloro-3-(3-(morpholine-4-yl)-3-oxopropylamine)-1,4-naphthoquinone (FO-2 at concentrations of 10-3, 10-5, 10-7 M on the content of TBA-reactive substances (a byproduct of lipid peroxidation) and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in loach embryos. It was established that 1,4-naphthoquinone amide derivatives and 2-chloro-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone decreased the content of lipid peroxidation products in embryo cells in a dose-dependent manner. The investigated compounds cause an increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities compared with the control value. The results of the two-factor ANOVA test indicate that 2-chloro-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 1,4-naphthoquinone amide derivatives (FO-1, FO-2) have predominant influence on the TBA-reactive substances content and superoxide dismutase activity. However, the time of loach embryos development has a more pronounced effect on catalase activity than the studied 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives.

Novel o-naphthoquinones induce apoptosis of EL-4 T lymphoma cells through the increase of reactive oxygen species

Novel β-lapachone analogs 2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ1), 2-p-tolyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ3) and 2-methyl-2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ7), which have trypanocidal activity, were assayed for cytotoxic effects on murine EL-4 T lymphoma cells. The NQs inhibited the proliferation of EL-4 cells at concentrations above 1μM. Nuclear staining of the EL-4 cells revealed chromatin condensation and a nuclear morphology compatible with the induction of apoptosis. Flow cytometry assays with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide confirmed the cell death by apoptosis. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a semiquinone radical was detected in EL-4 cells treated with NQs. In addition, a decrease in the GSH level in parallel with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed. Preincubation with n-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) was able to reverse the inhibitory effects of the NQs on cell proliferation, indicating that ROS generation is involved in NQ-induced apoptosis. In addition, the NQs induced a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the proteolytic activation of caspases 9 and 3 and the cleavage of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP). In conclusion, these results indicate that redox cycling is induced by the NQs in the EL-4 cell line, with the generation of ROS and other free radicals that could inhibit cellular proliferation as a result of the induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway.