ABSTRACT
A total synthetic route for two natural dihydrostilbenes with significant cytotoxicity toward human cancer cell lines, (3-(2-(7-methoxybenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethyl)phenol 1a and 6-(3-hydroxyphenethyl)benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-4-ol 1b), which were isolated from Bulbophyllum odoratissimum Lindl, was developed via Wittig-Horner reaction. The natural products 1a and 1b were obtained in 28% and 20% overall yield, respectively. Additionally, nine analogues, 1c-1k, of the two natural dihydrostilbenes were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against human SGC-7901, KB and HT-1080 cell lines by MTT assay. The activities of 1c and 1d were in the same range as those of the natural products 1a and 1b.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemical synthesis , Benzoxazines/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Orchidaceae/chemistry , Stilbenes/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Benzoxazines/chemical synthesis , Cell Line, Tumor , Colorimetry , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Stilbenes/chemistry , Stilbenes/pharmacology , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sarsasapogenin from Anemarrhena asphodeloides BUNGE (Liliaceae) on the forced swimming test, and the central noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic activities in mice. Our results showed that sarsasapogenin treatment at 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg (p.o.) for 14 d significantly reduced the duration of immobility in the forced swimming test. These doses that affected the immobile response did not affect locomotor activity. In addition, the neurochemical assays showed that sarsasapogenin produced a marked increase of noradrenaline and serotonin levels at 50 mg/kg in both the hypothalamus and the hippocampus. Moreover, sarsasapogenin showed a monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity in the mouse brain. These findings suggest that the antidepressant activity of sarsasapogenin may involve the central monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems.
