diospyrin and Carcinoma--Ehrlich-Tumor

The synthesis and tumor-inhibitory activity of a series of aminonaphthoquinone derivatives of diospyrin, which was isolated from Diospyros montana Roxb., are presented here for the first time. An aminoacetate derivative showed the maximum (approximately 93%) increase in life span in vivo against murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) at a dose of 1 mg kg(-1)day(-1) (ip; five doses), and the lowest IC50 (0.06 microM) in vitro. Further, the same analogue also exhibited considerable enhancement in antiproliferative activity when evaluated against human cell lines, viz. malignant skin melanoma and epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma (IC50=0.06 and 0.92 microM, respectively) in comparison to the natural precursor, diospyrin (IC50=0.82 and 3.58 microM, respectively). Moreover, diospyrin and all its derivatives were found to show significantly greater (approximately 17- to 1441-fold) cytotoxicity against the tumor cells as compared to normal human lymphocytes. All these quinonoids generated substantial amounts of reactive oxygen species in EAC cells, more or less commensurate to their respective IC50 values.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzoquinones; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Design; Electrochemistry; Humans; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Neoplasms; Oxidation-Reduction; Reactive Oxygen Species

Alkyl ethers (D2 and D7) synthesized from diospyrin (D1), a naphthoquinonoid isolated from Diospyros montana Roxb., were evaluated for cytotoxicity and capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumour cells.. The tumour inhibitory activity of the quinonoids was assessed in vivo against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), while cytotoxicity was determined in vitro on EAC and MCF-7 cancer cells by MTT assay. ROS generated by quinonoids in MCF-7 cells was measured fluorimetrically.. The tumour inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity and ROS generation capacity of quinonoids were found to be D7 > D2 > D1.. Alkyl ethers of D1 were more cytotoxic against tumour cells in vitro as well as in vivo.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Cell Line, Tumor; Ethers; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Reactive Oxygen Species; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Diospyrin, a bisnaphthoquinonoid plant product, shows inhibitory activity against murine tumour in vivo and human cancer cell lines in vitro. Efforts have further been made to obtain synthetic derivatives of diospyrin with the objective of improved therapeutic effects. With the goal to reduce the toxicity towards normal cells and enhance the efficacy to tumour cells, diospyrin was encapsulated in liposomal vesicle and its antitumour potential was observed on the growth of Ehrlich ascites tumour in Swiss mice. It was found that the longevity of the tumour-bearing mice was significantly enhanced by treatment with liposomal diospyrin as compared with the free drug. Biochemical assay of liver function enzymes, viz. LDH, AP, GOT and GPT in blood serum of the tumour-bearing mice showed substantial alterations in the activity of these enzymes. These parameters were, however, restored to near normal level when the drug treatment was given encapsulated in a liposome. Histopathological studies on the liver tissues indicated a near normal pathological status in the treated animals despite being challenged by tumour cells. This study on diospyrin has shown, for the first time, an enhancement of its antitumour effect in vivo through liposomal encapsulation.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Diospyros; Drug Compounding; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Liposomes; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Male; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Neoplasm Transplantation

Plumbagin, a plant-derived bioactive naphthoquinonoid compound, was converted to a hydroquinonoid derivative, which was studied for its tumour-inhibitory and antileishmanial activities for the first time. A similar chemical transformation was undertaken on an analogous dimeric compound, diospyrin, and its bioassay results were compared with those of the plumbagin derivative. Synthesis of the derivative of plumbagin did not result in a marked enhancement of the tumour-inhibitory activity, whereas the improvement was obvious in the case of diospyrin vis à vis its hydroquinonoid analogue. The conversion of diospyrin to the hydroquinonoid compound also led to a substantial increase in the antileishmanial activity, while a similar conversion of plumbagin failed to do so.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antiparasitic Agents; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Cell Division; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Leishmania donovani; Male; Mice; Molecular Structure; Naphthoquinones; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plumbaginaceae

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor; Hemoglobins; Leukocyte Count; Mice; Mice, Inbred A; Naphthoquinones