Evaluating the In Vitro Activity and Safety of Modified LfcinB Peptides as Potential Colon Anticancer Agents: Cell Line Studies and Insect-Based Toxicity Assessments.

Anticancer peptides are increasingly being considered as alternative treatments for cancer due to their potency, selectivity, and low toxicity. Previously, the peptide LfcinB (21-25)Pal showed in vitro anticancer effects against the Caco-2 colon cancer cell line (half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50): 86 µM). In this study, we developed modifications to the peptide sequence to increase its anticancer activity. Sequence modifications were made such as the inclusion of amino hexanoic acid (Ahx), N-terminal biotinylation, acetylation, and substitutions of Orn for Arg and/or d-Arg by l-Arg. The molecules were synthesized using manual solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), and their synthetic feasibility (SAScore) ranged from 6.2 to 7.6. The chromatographic purities of the synthesized peptides were greater than 89%. We found that Ahx-RWQWRWQWR and RWQWRWQW-Orn showed activity against both Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines and decreased IC50 values by approx. 50% in Caco-2 cells (IC50: 40 µM) when compared to the parent peptide RWQWRWQWR. Moreover, the modified peptides demonstrated lower hemolytic effects, with values <10% at 200 µg/mL. Toxicity was assessed using the Galleria mellonella model and the half-maximal lethal dose (LD50) for the best peptides was >100 mg/kg, indicating that their toxicity is classified as moderately toxic or lower. In contrast, cisplatin showed an LD50 of 13 mg/Kg. The designed anticancer peptides presented good in vitro activity and low toxicity, making them promising molecules for future drug development studies.

4-Phenylphenalenones as a template for new photodynamic compounds against Mycosphaerella fijiensis.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of 4-phenylphenalenones and structural analogues against the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis (causal agent of black sigatoka disease in bananas) under light-controlled conditions uncovered some key structural features for the design of photodynamic compounds. RESULTS: Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed the importance of a chromophoric aryl-ketone and a steroidomimetic structural motif in the activity of the assayed compounds. The results pointed to 1,2-dihydro-3H-naphtho[2',1':3,4]cyclohepta[1,2-b]furan-3-one, which displayed an activity in the range of propiconazole but with photodynamic behaviour. CONCLUSION: The present work demonstrates that 1,2-dihydro-3H-naphtho[2',1':3,4]cyclohepta[1,2-b]heterocyclic-3-one derivatives can be used as potential lead compounds for the development of fungicides, relying on a dual mode of action. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.