Synthesis of messagenin and platanic acid chalcone derivatives and their biological potential

The chalcone derivatives of 20-oxo-lupanes have been synthesised and screened for some types of biological activity. Ozonolysis of lupanes afforded 20-oxo-derivatives with the following condensation using different aromatic aldehydes by Claisen‒Schmidt reaction to the target compounds. The E configuration of 19-[3-(pyridin-3-yl)-prop-2-en-1-one]-fragment was established by X-ray analysis. Screening of cytotoxic activity against NCI-60 cancer cell line panel revealed, that messagenin derivative 9 has the highest activity with GI₅₀ value ranged from 0.304 to 0.804 μM. A colorimetric SRB assay revealed for the 2,30-bis-furfurylidene derivative 11 and 30-bromo-20-oxo-29-nor-3,28-diacetoxy-betulin 16 cytotoxic activity against breast carcinoma MCF-7 and ovarian carcinoma A2780 cell lines. Compounds 11 and 13 acted also as inhibitors of the enzyme α-glucosidase (from S. saccharomyces) with IC₅₀ values of 1.76 μM and 3.3 μM thus being 97- and 52-fold more active than standard acarbose. Antiviral potency of compounds 12 and 14 against HCMV, HSV-1 and HPV is also discussed.

Allobetulone rearrangement to l8αH,19βH-ursane triterpenoids with antiviral activity

Allobetulone E-ring rearrangement under treating with HClO₄ in Ac₂O under reflux afforded new triterpenoids: 3,28-diacetoxy-21-acetyl-2(3),20(21)-18α,19βH-ursandiene 3 and 3,28-diacetoxy-2(3),18(19)-oleandiene 4. 18α,19βH-Ursanes were transformed at A- and E-rings into indolo- and bis-furfurylidene 7 derivatives. Structure elucidation was performed using COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC experiments, and X-Ray analysis for 3. The potential of newly obtained 18α,19βH-ursanes was evaluated against HCMV and HPV-11, the NCI-60 cancer cell panel and inhibition of α-glucosidase. All of the compounds have shown viral inhibition towards HCMV compared to standard drug Acyclovir. 3β-Acetoxy-21β-acetyl-20β,28-epoxy-18α,19βН-ursane 1 showed moderate activity (EC₅₀ 4.87 μM) towards the HCMV-resistant isolate (GDGr K17) compared to standard drug Cidofovir and was four times more potent than Ganciclovir. Compound 7 inhibited the cell growth of the three melanoma and one colon cancer cell. 3-Oxo-21β-acetyl-20β,28-epoxy-18α,19βН-ursane 5 and compound 7 inhibited α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ 28.0 µM and 4.0 µM being from 6 to 44 times more active than acarbose.