Synthesis of methoxy-substituted chalcones and in vitro evaluation of their anticancer potential

Exploring the Gallic and Cinnamic Acids Chimeric Derivatives as Anticancer Agents over HeLa Cell Line: An in silico and in vitro Study

Cervical cancer is one of the most aggressive and important cancer types in the female population, due to its low survival rate. Actually, the search for new bioactive compounds, like gallic and cinnamic acid, is one of the most employed options to finding a treatment. In the present study, 134 phenolic compounds with cytotoxic activity over HeLa cell line were used to generate a descriptive ( R 2 ${{R}^{2}}$ =0.76) and predictive ( Q 2 ${{Q}^{2}}$ =0.69 and Q e x t 2 ${{Q}_{{\rm e}{\rm x}{\rm t}}^{2}}$ =0.62) QSAR model. Structural, electronic, steric, and hydrophobic features are represented as different molecular descriptors in our QSAR model. From this model, nine gallate-cinnamate ester derivatives (N1-N9) were designed and synthesized. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated against HeLa and non-tumorigenic cells. Derivatives N6, N5, N1, and N9 were the most active molecules with IC_50ExpHeLa values from 7.26 to 11.95 μM. Finally, the binding of the synthesized compounds to the colchicine binding site on tubulin was evaluated by molecular docking as a possible action mechanism. N1, N5 and N6 can be considered as templates for the design of new cervical anticancer compounds.

2', 4'-dihydroxy-3, 4-methylenedioxychalcone Activate Mitochondrial Apoptosis of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells

Background:

Development of effective cancer-chemotherapy is the most challenging field due to the toxicity of chemo-agents.

Objective:

As chalcone has been known to have pharmacological applications, here the aim is to synthesized three chalcone derivatives, 2',4'-dihydroxy-3,4-methylenedioxychalcone (C1), 2'-hydroxy- 2,4, 6-trimethoxychalcone (C2) and 2'-hydroxy-4-methylchalcone (C3) and investigate their anti-cancer properties against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell.

Method:

Anticancer properties against EAC cells were studied by examining growth inhibition, MTT assays, tumour-bearing mice survival, tumour weight measurement and haematological profiles. Moreover, apoptosis of EAC cells was investigated by fluorescence microscopy, flowcytometry and DNA fragmentation assays. Expression of apoptosis related genes were studied by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR).

Results:

Among the compounds, C1 exhibited highest cell growth inhibition at 200 mg/kg/day (81.71%; P < 0.01). C1 treatment also increased the life span of EAC-bearing mice (82.60%, P < 0.05) with the reduction of tumour burden (<) compared to untreated EAC-bearing mice. In vitro study indicated that C1 killed EAC-cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways. In addition, C1 treated cells exhibited increased apoptotic features such as membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation after Hoechst 33342 staining. Increased fragmentation of DNA in gel electrophoresis followed by C1 treatment further confirmed apoptosis of EAC cells. EAC cells treated with C1 showed reduced Bcl-2 expression in contrast to notable upregulation of p53 and Bax expression. It implied that C1 could reinstate the expression of pro-apoptotic tumour suppressor and inhibit anti-apoptotic genes.

Conclusions:

Thus, C1 showed significant growth inhibitory properties and induced apoptosis of EAC cells.

Lacerda EDP, Lima RS, M. de Oliveira A, Camargo AJ, Napolitano HB. Molecular modeling of cytotoxic activity of a new terpenoid-like bischalcone

This study describes the synthesis and structure of (1E,4E)-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one (BC I). This work evaluates molecular docking and cytotoxic activity against two tumor cell lines.

Coumarin-chalcone hybrid instigates DNA damage by minor groove binding and stabilizes p53 through post translational modifications

S009-131, a coumarin-chalcone hybrid, had been shown to possess anti-proliferative and anti-tumour effect by triggering apoptosis. In this report, we investigated role of DNA damage signalling pathway in S009-131 induced cancer cell death. Here we show that S009-131 causes DNA damage by potential binding to the minor groove which led to the phosphorylation and activation of ATM and DNA-PK, but not ATR, at earlier time points in order to initiate repair process. S009-131 induced DNA damage response triggered activation of p53 through phosphorylation at its key residues. Pharmacological inhibition of PIKKs abrogated S009-131 induced phosphorylation of p53 at Ser 15. DNA damage induced phosphorylation resulted in reduced proteasomal degradation of p53 by disrupting p53-MDM2 interaction. Additionally, our docking studies revealed that S009-131 might also contribute to increased cellular p53 level by occupying p53 binding pocket of MDM2. Posttranslational modifications of p53 upon S009-131 treatment led to enhanced affinity of p53 towards responsive elements (p53-RE) in the promoter regions of target genes and increased transcriptional efficiency. Together, the results suggest that S009-131 cleaves DNA through minor groove binding and eventually activates PIKKs associated DNA damage response signalling to promote stabilization and enhanced transcriptional activity of p53 through posttranslational modifications at key residues.

Halogenated naphthochalcones and structurally related naphthopyrazolines with antitumor activity

Three 3-(3-halo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(2-naphthyl)prop-2-en-1-ones 1 and three structurally related 2-pyrazolines 2 were prepared and assessed in vitro for anticancer activity. The chalcones 1 were antiproliferative with low double-digit micromolar IC₅₀ values against six tumor cell lines whereas the pyrazolines 2 showed low single-digit micromolar IC₅₀ values against this panel. The pyrazolines inhibited ATP-binding cassette efflux transporters of types P-gp and BCRP while the chalcones inhibited selectively BCRP. All test compounds induced an accumulation of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and they interfered with the microtubule and F-actin dynamics, but only the chalcones induced apoptosis in 518A2 melanoma cells after 24h.

Drug screening on Hutchinson Gilford progeria pluripotent stem cells reveals aminopyrimidines as new modulators of farnesylation

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a dramatic appearance of premature aging. HGPS is due to a single-base substitution in exon 11 of the LMNA gene (c.1824C>T) leading to the production of a toxic form of the prelamin A protein called progerin. Because farnesylation process had been shown to control progerin toxicity, in this study we have developed a screening method permitting to identify new pharmacological inhibitors of farnesylation. For this, we have used the unique potential of pluripotent stem cells to have access to an unlimited and relevant biological resource and test 21,608 small molecules. This study identified several compounds, called monoaminopyrimidines, which target two key enzymes of the farnesylation process, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase and farnesyl transferase, and rescue in vitro phenotypes associated with HGPS. Our results opens up new therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of HGPS by identifying a new family of protein farnesylation inhibitors, and which may also be applicable to cancers and diseases associated with mutations that involve farnesylated proteins.

Water mediated reactions: TiO2and ZnO nanoparticle catalyzed multi component domino reaction in the synthesis of tetrahydroacridinediones, acridindiones, xanthenones and xanthenes

Tetrahydroacridine-1,8-(2H,5H,9H,10H)-diones4from 1,3-cyclohexanedione and/or dimedone 1,2-chloro-3-formylquinoline2and anilines3in water at 90 °C were obtained by domino reaction approach.

Green chemical approach: microwave assisted, titanium dioxide nanoparticles catalyzed, convenient and efficient C–C bond formation in the synthesis of highly functionalized quinolines and quinolinones

TiO₂ nanoparticles was effectively applied in the microwave assisted synthesis of quinolines and quinolones.

A convenient and efficient C–OH bond activation, PdCl2(PPh3)2catalyzed, C–C bond formation of tautomerizable quinolinones with the aid of BOP reagent and boronic acids

C–C bond formation of tautomerizable quinolinones. C–OH bond activation using BOP reagent and boronic acids.

TiO2 nano crystallites catalyzed water mediated microwave assisted regioselective three component domino hydrolysis/aldol condensation/Michael addition reaction of 3-(1,5-dioxo-1,5-diphenylpentan-3-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-one

Microwave supported, water intervened, nano crystalline TiO₂ catalyzed synthesis of 3-(1,5-dioxo-1,5-diphenylpentan-3-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-ones, is described.