Synthesis and biological activity of 4-alkoxy chalcones: potential hydrophobic modulators of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance

Recent developments of P-glycoprotein inhibitors and its structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) over-expression is a key factor in multi-drug resistance (MDR), which is a major factor in the failure of cancer treatment. P-gp inhibitors have been demonstrated to have powerful pharmacological properties and may be used as a therapeutic approach to overcome the MDR in cancer cells. Combining clinical investigations with biochemical and computational research may potentially lead to a clearer understanding of the pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action of these P-gp inhibitors. The task of turning these discoveries into effective therapeutic candidates for a variety of malignancies, including resistant and metastatic kinds, falls on medicinal chemists. A variety of P-gp inhibitors with great potency, high selectivity, and minimal toxicity have been identified in recent years. The latest advances in drug design, characterization, structure-activity relationship (SAR) research, and modes of action of newly synthesized, powerful small molecules P-gp inhibitors over the previous ten years are highlighted in this review. P-gp transporter over-expression has been linked to MDR, therefore the development of P-gp inhibitors will expand our understanding of the processes and functions of P-gp-mediated drug efflux, which will be helpful for drug discovery and clinical cancer therapies.

A state-of-the-art review and prospective therapeutic applications of prenyl flavonoids as chemosensitizers against antifungal multidrug resistance in Candida albicans

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is defined as non-susceptibility to at least one agent in two or more drug classes. This phenomenon has been increasingly reported since the rise in the incidence of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients at the end of the last century. After the discovery of efflux pump overexpression as a principal mechanism causing MDR in Candida strains, drug discovery targeting fungal efflux transporters has had a growing impact. Chemosensitization aims to enhance azole intracellular concentrations through combination therapy with transporter inhibitors. Consequently, the use of drug efflux inhibitors combined with the antifungal agent will sensitize the pathogen. As a result, the use of lower drug concentrations will reduce possible adverse effects on the host. Through an extensive revision of the literature, this review aims to provide an exhaustive and critical analysis of the studies carried out in the past two decades, regarding the chemosensitization strategy to cope with multidrug resistance in C. albicans. This work provides a deep analysis of the research about the inhibition of drug-efflux membrane transporters by prenylated flavonoids and the interactions of these phytocompounds with azole antifungals as an approach to chemosensitize multidrug-resistant C. albicans strains. We highlight the importance of prenylflavonoids and their particular chemical and pharmacological characteristics that make them excellent candidates with therapeutic potential as chemosensitizers. Finally, we propose the need for further research of prenyl flavonoids as inhibitors of drug-efflux mediated fungal resistance.

Discovery of the Triazolo[1,5-a]Pyrimidine-Based Derivative WS-898 as a Highly Efficacious and Orally Bioavailable ABCB1 Inhibitor Capable of Overcoming Multidrug Resistance

Targeting P-glycoprotein (ABCB1 or P-gp) has been recognized as a promising strategy to overcome multidrug resistance. Here, we reported our medicinal chemistry efforts that led to the discovery of the triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivative WS-898 as a highly effective ABCB1 inhibitor capable of reversing paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in drug-resistant SW620/Ad300, KB-C2, and HEK293/ABCB1 cells (IC₅₀ = 5.0, 3.67, and 3.68 nM, respectively), more potent than verapamil and zosuquidar. WS-898 inhibited the efflux function of ABCB1, thus leading to decreased efflux and increased intracellular PTX concentration in SW620/Ad300 cells. The cellular thermal shift assay indicated direct engagement of WS-898 to ABCB1. Furthermore, WS-898 stimulated the ATPase activity of ABCB1 but had minimal effects on cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Importantly, WS-898 increased PTX sensitization in vivo without obvious toxicity. The results suggest that WS-898 is a highly effective triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-based ABCB1 inhibitor and shows promise in reversing ABCB1-mediated PTX resistance.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of Chalcone derivatives with antimalarial activity in New Zealand White Rabbits

Objective

Malaria is a major global health concern with the urgent need for new treatment alternatives due to the alarming increase of drug-resistant Plasmodium strains. Chalcones and its derivatives are important pharmacophores showing antimalarial activity. Determination of the pharmacokinetic variables at the preliminary step of drug development for any drug candidates is an essential component of in vivo antimalarial efficacy tests. Substandard pharmacokinetic variables are often responsible for insufficient therapeutic effect. Therefore, three chalcone derivatives, 1, 2, and 3, having antimalarial potency were studied further for potential therapeutic efficacy.

Results

In vivo pharmacokinetic studies of these three derivatives were performed on New Zealand White rabbits. The three derivatives were administered intra-peritoneally or orally at effective dose concentration and blood samples at different time points were collected. The determination of drug concentration was done through reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography. The peak plasma concentration of derivative 1, 2, and 3 were 1.96 ± 0.46 µg/mL (intraperitoneal route), 69.89 ± 5.49 µg/mL (oral route), and 3.74 ± 1.64 µg/mL (oral route). The results indicate a very low bioavailability of these derivatives. The present study gives a benchmark to advance the investigation of more derivatives in order to revamp the pharmacokinetic variables while maintaining both potency and metabolic constancy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05684-8.

Chalcone Derivatives: Role in Anticancer Therapy

Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones) are precursors for flavonoids and isoflavonoids, which are common simple chemical scaffolds found in many naturally occurring compounds. Many chalcone derivatives were also prepared due to their convenient synthesis. Chalcones as weandhetic analogues have attracted much interest due to their broad biological activities with clinical potentials against various diseases, particularly for antitumor activity. The chalcone family has demonstrated potential in vitro and in vivo activity against cancers via multiple mechanisms, including cell cycle disruption, autophagy regulation, apoptosis induction, and immunomodulatory and inflammatory mediators. It represents a promising strategy to develop chalcones as novel anticancer agents. In addition, the combination of chalcones and other therapies is expected to be an effective way to improve anticancer therapeutic efficacy. However, despite the encouraging results for their response to cancers observed in clinical studies, a full description of toxicity is required for their clinical use as safe drugs for the treatment of cancer. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances of the chalcone family as potential anticancer agents and the mechanisms of action. Besides, future applications and scope of the chalcone family toward the treatment and prevention of cancer are brought out.

Defying Multidrug Resistance! Modulation of Related Transporters by Flavonoids and Flavonolignans

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge for the 21th century in both cancer chemotherapy and antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections. Efflux pumps and transport proteins play an important role in MDR. Compounds displaying inhibitory activity toward these proteins are prospective for adjuvant treatment of such conditions. Natural low-cost and nontoxic flavonoids, thanks to their vast structural diversity, offer a great pool of lead structures with broad possibility of chemical derivatizations. Various flavonoids were found to reverse both antineoplastic and bacterial multidrug resistance by inhibiting Adenosine triphosphate Binding Cassette (ABC)-transporters (human P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP-1, breast cancer resistance protein, and bacterial ABC transporters), as well as other bacterial drug efflux pumps: major facilitator superfamily (MFS), multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE), small multidrug resistance (SMR) and resistance-nodulation-cell-division (RND) transporters, and glucose transporters. Flavonoids and particularly flavonolignans are therefore highly prospective compounds for defying multidrug resistance.

Medicinal chemistry strategies to discover P-glycoprotein inhibitors: An update

The presence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in malignant tumors is one of the primary causes of treatment failure in cancer chemotherapy. The overexpression of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which significantly increases the efflux of certain anticancer drugs from tumor cells, produces MDR. Therefore, inhibition of P-gp may represent a viable therapeutic strategy to overcome cancer MDR. Over the past 4 decades, many compounds with P-gp inhibitory efficacy (referred to as first- and second-generation P-gp inhibitors) have been identified or synthesized. However, these compounds were not successful in clinical trials due to a lack of efficacy and/or untoward toxicity. Subsequently, third- and fourth-generation P-gp inhibitors were developed but dedicated clinical trials did not indicate a significant therapeutic effect. In recent years, an extraordinary array of highly potent, selective, and low-toxicity P-gp inhibitors have been reported. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the synthetic and natural products that have specific inhibitory activity on P-gp drug efflux as well as promising chemosensitizing efficacy in MDR cancer cells. The present review focuses primarily on the structural features, design strategies, and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of these compounds.

Flavonoids as P-gp Inhibitors: A Systematic Review of SARs

P-glycoprotein, also known as ABCB1 in the ABC transporter family, confers the simultaneous resistance of metastatic cancer cells towards various anticancer drugs with different targets and diverse chemical structures. The exploration of safe and specific inhibitors of this pump has always been the pursuit of scientists for the past four decades. Naturally occurring flavonoids as benzopyrone derivatives were recognized as a class of nontoxic inhibitors of P-gp. The recent advent of synthetic flavonoid dimer FD18, as a potent P-gp modulator in reversing multidrug resistance both in vitro and in vivo, specifically targeted the pseudodimeric structure of the drug transporter and represented a new generation of inhibitors with high transporter binding affinity and low toxicity. This review concerned the recent updates on the structure-activity relationships of flavonoids as P-gp inhibitors, the molecular mechanisms of their action and their ability to overcome P-gp-mediated MDR in preclinical studies. It had crucial implications on the discovery of new drug candidates that modulated the efflux of ABC transporters and also provided some clues for the future development in this promising area.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of chalcones as reversers of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the major causes for multidrug resistance (MDR), which has become a major obstacle in cancer therapy. One hopeful approach to reverse the MDR is to develop inhibitors of P-gp in expression and/or function. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of chalcone derivatives as P-gp inhibitors and evaluated their potential reversal activities against MDR. Among them, the most active compound MY3 had little intrinsic cytotoxicity and showed the highest activity (RF = 50.19) in reversing DOX resistance in MCF-7/DOX cells. Further studies demonstrated that MY3 could increase intracellular accumulation of DOX and inhibit expression of P-gp at mRNA and protein levels. More importantly, MY3 significantly enhanced the efficacy of DOX against the tumor xenografts bearing MCF-7/DOX cells with the precondition of unchanged body weight. Therefore, MY3 might represent a promising lead to develop MDR reversal agents for cancer chemotherapy.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel α-substituted chalcones with potent anti-cancer activities and ability to overcome multidrug resistance

A series of forty α-substituted chalcones were synthesized and screened for their antiproliferative activities against HCT116 (colorectal) and HCC1954 (breast) cancer cell lines. Compounds 5a and 5e were found to be the most potent compounds with GI₅₀ values of 0.63 µM and 0.725 µM in HCC1954 cell line and 0.69 µM and 1.59 µM in HCT116 cell line, respectively. Both compounds induced a G2/M cell cycle arrest and caused apoptotic cell death in HCT116 cells as shown by the induction of PARP cleavage. The compounds also stabilized p53 in a dose-dependent manner in HCT116 cells following 24-hour treatment. Furthermore, both 5a and 5e were able to overcome multidrug resistance in two MDR-1 overexpressing multidrug resistant cell lines.

Make azoles active again: chalcones as potent reversal agents of transporters-mediated resistance in Candida albicans

AIM

Resistance against antifungals used for Candida albicans (Ca) treatment is mediated by two multidrug transporters, Mdr1p and Cdr1p, which are of enormous interest to the development of modulators combined with antifungals.

EXPERIMENTAL

A set of chalcones was synthesized by condensation reactions in laboratory and was then subject to biological assays to evaluate the effects on different yeast strains.  Results: The obtained chalcones were screened using the checkerboard liquid chemosensitization assays. Compounds 4, 10, 12 and 18, when combined with fluconazole, triggered strong sensitization on yeast strains overexpressing CaMdr1p and CaCdr1p, whereas displaying no cytotoxicity by themselves towards control strains and transporter-expressing yeast cells. In the Nile Red transport assay, the two most active compounds, 12 and 18 showed moderate-to-high accumulation of Nile Red with different behaviors towards the two transporters.

CONCLUSION

Chalcones are promising drug candidates for further development to make azole antifungals active again.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of chalcone-rivastigmine hybrids as cholinesterase inhibitors

A series of novel chalcone-rivastigmine hybrids were designed, synthesized, and tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Most of the target compounds showed hBChE selective activity in the micro- and submicromolar ranges. The most potent compound 3 exhibited comparable IC₅₀ to the commercially available drug (rivastigmine). To better understand their structure activity relationships (SAR) and mechanisms of enzyme-inhibitor interactions, kinetic and molecular modeling studies including molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out. Furthermore, compound 3 blocks the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SH-SY5Y cells and shows the required druggability and low cytotoxicity, suggesting this hybrid is a promising multifunctional drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment.

Optimization of Acryloylphenylcarboxamides as Inhibitors of ABCG2 and Comparison with Acryloylphenylcarboxylates

ABCG2 belongs to the superfamily of ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins and is associated with the limited success of anticancer chemotherapy, given its responsibility for the cross-resistance of tumor cells, known as multidrug resistance (MDR). Several classes of ABCG2 inhibitors were developed for increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy. A series of chalcones coupled to an additional aromatic residue was synthesized and investigated for their inhibition of ABC transporters. In our previous work we determined the preferred position of the linker on the A-ring to be ortho, and found several substitution patterns at the additional ring that improved potency. In this study we investigated whether a methoxy group that improved the inhibitory activity of chalcones would also be beneficial for the acryloylphenylcarboxamide scaffold. Indeed, this modification led to highly potent ABCG2 inhibitors. To support the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of the amide linker, six acryloylphenylcarboxylates were synthesized and investigated for their inhibitory activity. Replacement of the amide linker with an ester group resulted in decreased inhibition. Molecular modeling showed that the conformational preference of both series differs, thereby explaining the positive effect of the amide linker. Several compounds were characterized in detail by investigating their intrinsic cytotoxicity and capacity to reverse MDR in MTT assays and their effect on vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity.

The combination of quinazoline and chalcone moieties leads to novel potent heterodimeric modulators of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2)

During the last decade it has been found that chalcones and quinazolines are promising inhibitors of ABCG2. The combination of these two scaffolds offers a new class of heterocyclic compounds with potentially high inhibitory activity against ABCG2. For this purpose we investigated 22 different heterodimeric derivatives. In this series only methoxy groups were used as substituents as these had been proven superior for inhibitory activity of chalcones. All compounds were tested for their inhibitory activity, specificity and cytotoxicity. The most potent ABCG2 inhibitor in this series showed an IC50 value of 0.19 μM. It possesses low cytotoxicity (GI50 = 93 μM), the ability to reverse MDR and is nearly selective toward ABCG2. Most compounds containing dimethoxy groups showed slight activity against ABCB1 too. Among these three compounds (17, 19 and 24) showed even higher activity toward ABCB1 than ABCG2. All inhibitors were further screened for their effect on basal ATPase activity. Although the basal ATPase activity was partially stimulated, the compounds were not transported by ABCG2. Thus, quinazoline-chalcones are a new class of effective ABCG2 inhibitors.

Efficient co-delivery of a Pt(IV) prodrug and a p53 activator to enhance the anticancer activity of cisplatin

A nanoplatform targeting DNA and p53 simultaneously is assembled. Layered double hydroxide nanoparticles are co-loaded with a Pt(IV) prodrug and a p53 activator. Once inside cells, cisplatin is released to attack genomic DNA and kill cancer cells; simultaneously, the p53 activator results in active p53, a key protein involved in the apoptotic pathways initiated by platinum drugs. The anticancer efficacy of cisplatin is significantly improved through this synergistic application.

Chalcoplatin, a dual-targeting and p53 activator-containing anticancer platinum(IV) prodrug with unique mode of action

Complexation of cisplatin with a p53 activator as a single anticancer agent resulted in synergistically improved cytotoxicity in p53 wild-type but not p53 null human cancer cells. Mechanistic investigation was carried out on this dual-targeting Pt(IV) prodrug, chalcoplatin. The prodrug effectively entered cancer cells and arrested the cell cycle at the S and G2/M phases, distinctive of that from cisplatin. Chalcoplatin significantly induced p53 activation as well as the subsequent apoptosis pathways. This unique mode of action renders chalcoplatin remarkably cytotoxic and makes this compound among the first examples of a Pt(IV) prodrug that directly interacts with the downstream pathway after the formation of Pt-DNA lesions.

Molecular targeted approaches to cancer therapy and prevention using chalcones

There is an emerging paradigm shift in oncology that seeks to emphasize molecularly targeted approaches for cancer prevention and therapy. Chalcones (1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones), naturally-occurring compounds with widespread distribution in spices, tea, beer, fruits and vegetables, consist of open-chain flavonoids in which the two aromatic rings are joined by a three-carbon α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system. Due to their structural diversity, relative ease of chemical manipulation and reaction of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety with cysteine residues in proteins, some lead chalcones from both natural products and synthesis have been identified in a variety of screening assays for modulating important pathways or molecular targets in cancers. These pathways and targets that are affected by chalcones include MDM2/p53, tubulin, proteasome, NF-kappa B, TRIAL/death receptors and mitochondria mediated apoptotic pathways, cell cycle, STAT3, AP-1, NRF2, AR, ER, PPAR-γ and β-catenin/Wnt. Compared to current cancer targeted therapeutic drugs, chalcones have the advantages of being inexpensive, easily available and less toxic; the ease of synthesis of chalcones from substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenones also makes them an attractive drug scaffold. Therefore, this review is focused on molecular targets of chalcones and their potential implications in cancer prevention and therapy.

Molecular structure, FT-IR, NBO, HOMO and LUMO, MEP and first order hyperpolarizability of (2E)-1-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one by HF and density functional methods

(2E)-1-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one is synthesized by using 2,4-dichloroacetophenone and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde in ethanol. The structure of the compound was confirmed by IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. FT-IR spectrum of (2E)-1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one was recorded and analyzed. The crystal structure is also described. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed using HF and DFT methods and are assigned with the help of potential energy distribution method. The first hyperpolarizability and infrared intensities are also reported. The geometrical parameters of the title compound obtained from XRD studies are in agreement with the calculated (DFT) values. The stability of the molecule arising from hyper-conjugative interaction and charge delocalization has been analyzed using NBO analysis. The HOMO and LUMO analysis are used to determine the charge transfer within the molecule. MEP was performed by the DFT method. From the MEP map of the title molecule, negative region is mainly localized over the electronegative oxygen atoms, in the carbonyl group and the oxygen atom O4 of the methoxy group and the maximum positive region is localized on the phenyl rings.

Chalcone coating on cotton cloth – an approach to reduce attachment of live microbes

Cloths coated with 4-sulfonylmethyl chalcone prevented the growth of Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms.

Yeast ABC proteins involved in multidrug resistance

Pleiotropic drug resistance is a complex phenomenon that involves many proteins that together create a network. One of the common mechanisms of multidrug resistance in eukaryotic cells is the active efflux of a broad range of xenobiotics through ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is often used as a model to study such activity because of the functional and structural similarities of its ABC transporters to mammalian ones. Numerous ABC transporters are found in humans and some are associated with the resistance of tumors to chemotherapeutics. Efflux pump modulators that change the activity of ABC proteins are the most promising candidate drugs to overcome such resistance. These modulators can be chemically synthesized or isolated from natural sources (e.g., plant alkaloids) and might also be used in the treatment of fungal infections. There are several generations of synthetic modulators that differ in specificity, toxicity and effectiveness, and are often used for other clinical effects.

Investigation of chalcones as selective inhibitors of the breast cancer resistance protein: critical role of methoxylation in both inhibition potency and cytotoxicity

ABCG2 plays a major role in anticancer-drug efflux and related tumor multidrug resistance. Potent and selective ABCG2 inhibitors with low cytotoxicity were investigated among a series of 44 chalcones and analogues (1,3-diarylpropenones), by evaluating their inhibitory effect on the transport of mitoxantrone, a known ABCG2 substrate. Six compounds producing complete inhibition with IC(50) values below 0.5 μM and high selectivity for ABCG2 were identified. The number and position of methoxy substituents appeared to be critical for both inhibition and cytotoxicity. The best compounds, with potent inhibition and low toxicity, contained an N-methyl-1-indolyl (compound 38) or a 6'-hydroxyl-2',4'-dimethoxy-1-phenyl (compound 27) moiety (A-ring) and two methoxy groups at positions 2 and 6 of the 3-phenyl moiety (B-ring). Methoxy substitution contributed to inhibition at positions 3 and 5, but had a negative effect at position 4. Finally, methoxy groups at positions 3, 4, and 5 of the B-ring markedly increased cytotoxicity and, therefore, should be avoided.

Synthesis and evaluation of indole-based chalcones as inducers of methuosis, a novel type of nonapoptotic cell death

Methuosis is a novel caspase-independent form of cell death in which massive accumulation of vacuoles derived from macropinosomes ultimately causes cells to detach from the substratum and rupture. We recently described a chalcone-like compound, 3-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (i.e., MIPP), which can induce methuosis in glioblastoma and other types of cancer cells. Herein, we describe the synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a directed library of related compounds, providing insights into the contributions of the two aryl ring systems and highlighting a potent derivative, 3-(5-methoxy, 2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (i.e., MOMIPP) that can induce methuosis at low micromolar concentrations. We have also generated biologically active azide derivatives that may be useful for future studies aimed at identifying the protein targets of MOMIPP by photoaffinity labeling techniques. The potential significance of these studies is underscored by the finding that MOMIPP effectively reduces the growth and viability of Temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells. Thus, it may serve as a prototype for drugs that could be used to trigger death by methuosis in cancers that are resistant to conventional forms of cell death (e.g., apoptosis).

Bis-chalcone analogues as potent NO production inhibitors and as cytotoxic agents

Chalcones have a distinctive 1,3-diarylpropenone skeleton and exert numerous biological effects. Using a one-step Claisen-Schmidt condensation, we synthesized eleven bis-chalcones (3-13) and three acetyl chalcones (14-16) from substituted aldehydes and diacetylresorcinol. The compounds were tested for in vitro cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines (A549, DU145, KB, and KB-VIN) and inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglial cells. Among them, four compounds (3, 5, 6, and 13) showed significant cytotoxic activity with EC(50) values ranging from 1.57 to 5.14 μM, and seven compounds (3, 5-8, 10, and 13) displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NO production with IC(50) values ranging from 0.95 to 8.65 μM. A mechanism of action study of active compounds 6 and 7 discovered that these compounds down-regulated iNOS expression by inhibiting p65 NF-κB activation/nuclear translocation due to prevention of IκBα degradation. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) findings are also discussed.

Comparative Study on the MDR Reversal Effects of Selected Chalcones

Based on the structure of three previously established lead compounds, fifteen selected chalcones were synthesized and evaluated for their multidrug resistance (MDR) reversal activity on mouse lymphoma cells. The most active chalcones were stronger revertants than the positive control, verapamil. In the model of combination chemotherapy, the interactions between the anticancer drug doxorubicin and two of the most effective compounds were measured in vitro, on human MDR1 gene transfected mouse lymphoma cells, showing that the type of interaction for one of these compounds was indifferent while that for the other one was additive. Furthermore, two chalcones inhibited 50% of cell proliferation in concentration of around 0.4 μg/mL and were from 2- to 100-fold more active than the most chalcones. The structure-activity relationships were obtained and discussed in view of their usefulness for the design of chalcone-like P-gp modulators and drugs able to treat resistant cancers.

Inhibitory effects of gallic acid ester derivatives on Saccharomyces cerevisiae multidrug resistance protein Pdr5p

Overexpression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ABC transporter Pdr5p confers resistance to a range of structurally unrelated xenobiotics. This property allows Pdr5p to be used as a target for novel multidrug resistance reversal reagents or chemosensitizers. Herein, we report the effects of gallic acid derivatives with substitutions either on the ester moiety or in the benzene ring on the activity of Pdr5p. Compounds with a longer side chain (8-16 carbons) resulted in greater inhibition of Pdr5p ATPase. Derivatives with side chains of 8-12 carbons that retained hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring extensively inhibited Pdr5p ATPase activity. These compounds almost completely inhibited the efflux of the Pdr5p fluorescent substrate Rhodamine 6G and at 25 muM chemosensitized the Pdr5p-overexpressing strain AD124567 to fluconazole (0.4 mg mL(-1)). Gallic acid derivatives may be a new class of Pdr5p inhibitors.

Emerging role of Garcinol, the antioxidant chalcone from Garcinia indica Choisy and its synthetic analogs

Garcinol, harvested from Garcinia indica, has traditionally been used in tropical regions and appreciated for centuries; however its biological properties are only beginning to be elucidated. There is ample data to suggest potent antioxidant properties of this compound which have been used to explain most of its observed biological activities. However, emerging evidence suggests that garcinol could be useful as an anti-cancer agent, and it is increasingly being realized that garcinol is a pleiotropic agent capable of modulating key regulatory cell signaling pathways. Here we have summarized the progress of our current research knowledge on garcinol and its observed biological activities. We have also provided an explanation of observed properties based on its chemical structure and provided an insight into the structure and properties of chalcones, the precursors of garcinol. The available data is promising but more detailed investigations into the various properties of this compound, particularly its anti-cancer activity are urgently needed, and it is our hope that this review will stimulate further research for elucidating and appreciating the value of this nature's wonder agent.

Plant polyphenols and multidrug resistance: Effects of dietary flavonoids on drug transporters in Caco-2 and MDCKII-MDR1 cell transport models

The hypothesis tested was that specific flavonoids such as epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, genistin, naringenin, naringin, quercetin and xanthohumol will modulate cellular uptake and permeability (P(e)) of multidrug-resistant substrates, cyclosporin A (CSA) and digoxin, across Caco-2 and MDCKII-MDR1 cell transport models. (3)H-CSA/(3)H-digoxin transport and uptake experiments were performed with and without co-exposure of the flavonoids. Aglycone flavonoids reduced the P(e) of CSA to a greater extent than glycosylated flavonoids with 30 microM xanthohumol producing the greatest effect (7.2 x 10(-6) to 6.6 x 10(-7) and 17.9 x 10(-6) to 4.02 x 10(-6) cm s(-1) in Caco-2 and MDCKII-MDR1 cells, respectively); while no measurable effects were seen with digoxin. Xanthohumol significantly demonstrated (1) saturable efflux, (2) increased uptake of (3)H-digoxin and (3) decreased uptake of (3)H-CSA in the Caco-2 cells. The transport data suggests that xanthohumol effects transport of CSA in a manner that is distinct from the digoxin efflux pathway and suggests that intestinal transport of these MDR1 substrates is more complex than previously reported.

Modulation of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) by non-basic chalcone analogues

Chalcones are biosynthetic precursors of flavonoids found to possess cytotoxic and chemopreventive activities. In this study, 17 non-basic chalcone analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to modulate the function of either the human wild-type (482R) or mutant (482T) breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) stably expressed in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. At 5microM, chalcones with 2,4-dimethoxy groups or 2,4-dihydroxyl groups on ring A were found to increase mitoxantrone accumulation to a greater extent than an established BCRP inhibitor, fumitremorgin C. At the same time, these chalcones had negligible effect on calcein accumulation in P-glycoprotein overexpressing MDCKII cells, indicating their potential as selective BCRP inhibitors. Functionally, these compounds were able to increase the sensitivity of BCRP-overexpressing cancer cells to mitoxantrone by 2-5-fold. The effect of chalcone compounds on both wild-type and mutant BCRP ATPase activity was also examined and variable effects were observed. A stimulatory effect was mostly observed with chalcones with 2,4-dimethoxy substitution on ring A which were earmarked as good BCRP inhibitors in the MX accumulation and cytotoxicity assays. These findings underscore the potential of methoxylated and hydroxylated chalcones as selective and potent inhibitors of BCRP whose mode of action may not involve the inhibition of ATPase activity.

Functionalized chalcones as selective inhibitors of P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein

A library of chalcones with basic functionalities were screened for inhibition of P-glycoprotein (Pgp, ABCB1) by the calcein-AM accumulation assay on MDCKII/MDR1 cells. Three members that had ring A substituted with 5-(1-ethylpiperidin-4-yl) and 2,4-dimethoxy groups were found to increase calcein-AM accumulation to a greater extent than verapamil, a Pgp inhibitor. These compounds were subsequently shown to enhance the uptake of doxorubicin by MCF-7 cells that over-expressed Pgp. However, when tested for inhibition of the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2) by the mitoxantrone uptake assay, the same compounds fared poorly. In comparison, a non-basic chalcone (5-14, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one) increased mitoxantrone uptake by BCRP over-expressing MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/MX) by more than 300% at 5 microM. Thus, introducing a basic group on the chalcone template enhanced Pgp inhibition at the expense of BCRP inhibition. The basic chalcones were also better Pgp inhibitors than their non-basic counterparts which may in turn be better BCRP inhibitors. Structure activity analysis showed that lipophilicity of the chalcones was not the overriding factor for Pgp inhibitory activity. Rather, good activity was associated with appropriately placed electron donor atoms, of which the meta-disubstituted dimethoxy motif on either ring A or B was of particular relevance. In spite of differing structural requirements for inhibition of Pgp and BCRP, chalcone 3-100 [3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one] inhibited both Pgp and BCRP to a reasonable extent and may be a useful starting point for the design of dual inhibitors.

In silico modelling of the interaction of flavonoids with human P-glycoprotein nucleotide-binding domain

A three-dimensional model of human ABCB1 nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) was developed by homology modelling using the high-resolution human TAP1 transporter structure as template. Interactions between NBD and flavonoids were investigated using in silico docking studies. Ring-A of unmodified flavonoid was located within the NBD P-loop with the 5-hydroxyl group involved in hydrogen bonding with Lys1076. Ring-B was stabilised by hydrophobic stacking interactions with Tyr1044. The 3-hydroxyl group and carbonyl oxygen were extensively involved in hydrogen bonding interactions with amino acids within the NBD. Addition of prenyl, benzyl or geranyl moieties to ring-A (position-6) and hydrocarbon substituents (O-n-butyl to O-n-decyl) to ring-B (position-4) resulted in a size-dependent decrease in predicted docking energy which reflected the increased binding affinities reported in vitro.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of flavone derivatives as potential radioligands for imaging the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (ABCC1/MRP1)

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the major problems affecting the treatment of cancer. In vivo visualization and quantification of MDR proteins would be of great value to better select the therapeutic strategy. Six flavone-based compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity and MDR-reversing capacity using hMRP1 or hMDR1 overexpressing cell lines for in vitro assays. All the flavone derivatives were highly selective for hMRP1-expressing cell lines. These derivatives each used at 4muM (a non-cytotoxic concentration) enhance significantly the sensitivity of hMRP1-mediated MDR cell line toward doxorubicin toxicity. Their MDR-reversing capacity suggests that, in particular, the 4'-fluoroalkyloxy and 4'-iodo apigenin derivatives are potential new radiopharmaceuticals to visualize in vivo MRP1-mediated MDR phenomenon by PET or SPECT.

Synthesis of Demethylxanthohumol, a New Potent Apoptosis-Inducing Agent from Hops

Starting from commercially available phloracetophenone (= 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)ethanone), we synthesized demethylxanthohumol (4), a derivative of xanthohumol, devoid of 6'-O-methyl group. Both are prenylchalcones derived from hops (Humulus lupulus). The synthesis was accomplished by an aldol condensation between MOM-protected acetophenone 2 and MOM-protected benzaldehyde 3. The resulting demethylxanthohumol (4) displayed antiproliferative properties. Demethylxanthohumol (4) induced also apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in BJAB cells (Burkitt lymphoma cell line) and in primary lymphoblasts of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

3D QSAR studies on antimalarial alkoxylated and hydroxylated chalcones by CoMFA and CoMSIA

The 3D QSAR analyses of antimalarial alkoxylated and hydroxylated chalcones were first conducted by Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) to determine the factors required for the activity of these compounds. Satisfactory results were obtained after performing a leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation study with cross-validation q(2) and conventional r(2) values of 0.740 and 0.972 by the CoMFA model, 0.714 and 0.976 by the CoMSIA model, respectively. The results provided the tools for predicting the affinity of related compounds, and for guiding the design and synthesis of novel and more potent antimalarial agents.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel boronic-chalcone derivatives as antitumor agents

A series of boronic-chalcone derivatives were synthesized and tested for antitumor activity against human breast cancer cell lines. The results show the boronic-chalcones are more toxic to breast cancer cells compared to normal breast cells than other known chalcones.

Recent advances in the discovery of flavonoids and analogs with high-affinity binding to P-glycoprotein responsible for cancer cell multidrug resistance

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a plasma membrane glycoprotein that confers multidrug resistance on cells by virtue of its ability to exclude cytotoxic drugs in an ATP-dependent manner. The most commonly considered hypothesis is that P-gp acts as an ATP-driven drug-export pump, the mechanism of which is not understood in detail. Therefore, a tremendous effort is being made to find out modulator molecules to inhibit P-gp. We have been developing flavonoid derivatives as a new class of promising modulators using a new in vitro rational-screening assay based on measurements of the binding-affinity toward the C-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (NBD2) of P-gp. This review is focused on our results obtained with a variety of flavonoids. Structure-activity relationships of flavonoids as potential MDR modulators are reported.

4-Hydroxy-6-methoxyaurones with high-affinity binding to cytosolic domain of P-glycoprotein

A series of 4-hydroxy-6-methoxyaurones and 4,6-dimethoxyaurones has been synthesised and tested for their binding affinity toward the nucleotide-binding domain of P-glycoprotein, an ABC (ATP-Binding Cassette) transporter which mediates the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy. These compounds differ from each other by the nature of the substituent on the aurone B-ring. The binding affinity seems to be linked to the nature of the substituent, as well as to the presence or the absence of a hydroxy group at position 4. The most active compounds were 4'-bromo-4-hydroxy-6-methoxyaurone and 4-hydroxy-4'-iodo-6-methoxyaurone.