nystatin-a1 and avarone

In this work, synthesis of alkylamino and aralkylamino derivatives of sesquiterpene quinone avarone and its model compound tert-butylquinone was described. For all obtained derivatives biological activity was studied. Cytotoxic activity of the synthesized derivatives towards multidrug resistant MDR human non-small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H460/R cells, their sensitive counterpart NCI-H460 and human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT) as well as detection of cell death superoxide anion generation were investigated. Antimicrobial activity towards Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungal cultures was determined. The results showed that strong cytotoxic activity toward cancer cells was improved with simple avarone mimetics. Some derivatives were selective towards MDR cancer cells. The most active derivatives induced apoptosis in both cancer cell lines, but not in normal cells. Superoxide production was induced by 2,6-disubstituted compounds in MDR cancer cells and not by less active 2,5-disubstituted compounds and was accompanied by the collapse of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Two tert-butylquinone derivatives were particularly selective towards MDR cancer cells. Some tert-butylquinone derivatives exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Benzoquinones; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclohexenes; Drug Design; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Humans; Hydroquinones; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Sesquiterpenes

A series of eighteen derivatives of marine sesquiterpene quinone avarone and its model system tert-butylquinone with amino acids has been synthesized by nucleophilic addition of amino acids to the quinones. In vitro cytotoxic activity toward human cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, Fem-X, K562, MDA-MB-453) and normal MRC-5 cell line was determined. Several compounds showed very strong inhibitory activity with IC50 values less than 10 μM. Avarone derivatives were more active than the corresponding tert-butylquinone derivatives. The results of the cytofluorimetric analysis of cell cycle of HeLa cells showed that apoptosis might be one of possible mechanism of action of these compounds in cancer cells. In order to examine the influence of caspases on cell death, the apoptotic mechanisms induced by the tested compounds were determined using specific caspases 3, 8 and 9 inhibitors. For all compounds antibacterial activities against six strains of Gram-positive and four strains of Gram-negative bacteria were determined, as well as antifungal activity against three fungal species.

Topics: Amino Acids; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclohexenes; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Fungi; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; HeLa Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Quinones; Sesquiterpenes; Structure-Activity Relationship