rocaglaol and rocaglamide

During the past few years, a group of cyclopenta[b]benzofurans from the plant genus Aglaia has received broad scientific attention as interesting natural product lead compounds with potential anticancer and insecticidal activities. Since the first cyclopenta[b]benzofuran derivative, rocaglamide, from Aglaia elliptifolia, was found to exhibit antileukemic activity in a murine in vivo model, the genus Aglaia has been subjected to further investigation. Over 40 cyclopenta[b]benzofurans have been tested against different human cancer cell lines, and the cumulative results provide some important clues as to how to improve their activity through modification of their chemical structures. The semisynthesis and total synthesis of the cyclopenta[b]benzofurans have been conducted. Although the ultimate molecular target(s) responsible for their antiproliferative activity has not yet been identified, studies on their cellular mechanism of action have demonstrated that some of these compounds inhibit TNF-alpha or PMA-induced NF-kappaB activity in T-lymphocytes and induce apoptosis in different human cancer cell lines. Based on the published data thus far, cyclopenta[b]benzofurans offer excellent potential as therapeutic agent candidates in cancer chemotherapy, even if much work still remains to be done for their further development.

Topics: Aglaia; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzofurans; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Mice; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Two new rocaglamide derivatives, 1-O-formylrocagloic acid (1) and 3'-hydroxy rocagloic acid (2), together with five known compounds, rocaglaol (3), rocagloic acid (4), 3'-hydroxymethylrocaglate (5), 1-O-formylmethyl rocaglate (6), and methylrocaglate (7), were isolated from the fruits of Amoora cucullata. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-3, 6, and 7 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against KB, BC, and NCI-H187 cell lines, whereas 4 and 5 showed selective cytotoxicity against NCI-H187 cell line.

Topics: Benzofurans; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Meliaceae; Molecular Conformation; Reference Standards; Seeds; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship