[Effect of nitrogen-containing derivatives of the plant triterpenes betulin and glycyrrhetic acid on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM, and Hep G2 tumor cells].

Derivatives of the available plant triterpenes glycyrrhetic acid and betulin (betulin succinates and amides of betulonic and 18beta-glycyrrhetic acids containing fragments of long-chain amino acids and a peptide) were synthesized. The inhibitory action of these compounds on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM. and Hep G2 tumor cells and their effect on the apoptosis of these cells were studied. It was shown that betulonic acid amides are more effective inhibitors of the tumor cell growth than the corresponding amides of glycyrrhetic acid. It was also found that betulonic acid amides containing fragments of caprylic, pelargonic, and undecanoic acids are more effective inhibitors of tumor cell growth than betulinic acid. The 17-dipeptide derivative of betulonic acid N-{N-[3-oxo-20(29)-lupen-28-oyl]-9-aminononanoyl}-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid exhibited the maximum inhibitory activity toward the tumor cells studied. Data on the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by betulin derivatives at a concentration of 10 microg/ml were obtained by flow cytometry. The amides of betulonic acid proved to be the most effective inducers of apoptosis.

Antitumor and antimetastatic effects of betulonic acid amides in mice with transplantable lewis carcinoma.

We studied the effects of four synthetic amides of betulonic acid containing amino acid fragments (d,l-alpha-alanine, beta-alanine, and their methyl esters) on the rate of growth and metastatic dissemination of transplantable Lewis lung carcinoma in C57Bl/6 mice. The test compounds were administered intragastrically in a single dose of 500 mg/kg. 3-[-oxo-20(29)-lupen-28-oilamino]-propionic acid suppressed primary tumor growth (by 26%) and decreased the number of lung metastases (by more than 2 times). Antitumor and antimetastatic activity of triterpenoids decreased after methylation of the amino acid fragment in betulonic acid.

[Antiviral activity of vegetable triterpens, their derivatives and ribavirin phosphonates]. / Protivovirusnaia aktivnost' triterpenov rastitel'nogo proiskhozhdeniia, ikh proizvodnykh i fosfonatov ribavirina.

The purpose of the study was to investigate, in the Vero cell culture, the antiviral activity of vegetable tritrpens derivatives and ribavirin analogues against the viruses of measles, herpes simple (type 1), cytomegaloviruses and filoviruses. The toxicity and antiviral activity of compounds were determined after coloring of cells with crystal violate. Additionally, the combined action of triterpens' derivatives and ribavirin was investigated. The studied compounds showed relatively low antiviral activity, nonetheless, further research of vegetable triterpens and their derivatives as well as ribavirin analogues would be promising.