Glucopyranosylbianthrones from the Algerian Asphodelus tenuifolius: Structural Insights and Biological Evaluation on Melanoma Cancer Cells

J Nat Prod. 2018 Aug 24;81(8):1786-1794. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00234. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Abstract

Two new glucopyranosylbianthrones (1 and 2) were isolated from the aerial part of the plant Asphodelus tenuifolius, collected in Southwest Algeria. The 2D structures of 1 and 2 were defined by NMR analysis, HRESIMS data, and comparison with literature data. The comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism and NMR data led to characterization of the ( M) and ( P) atropisomeric forms of the glucopyranosylbianthrones, asphodelins (1) and (2), respectively. The in vitro activities of these two metabolites were evaluated in human melanoma A375 cells, and both the compounds inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 20.6 ± 0.8 and 23.2 ± 1.1 μM, respectively. Considering their biological profile, an inverse virtual screening approach was employed to identify and suggest putative anticancer interacting targets.

MeSH terms

  • Algeria
  • Anthracenes / chemistry*
  • Anthracenes / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Liliaceae / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Components, Aerial / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Plant Extracts