Efficient Synthesis of Glaziovianin A Isoflavone Series from Dill and Parsley Extracts and Their in Vitro/in Vivo Antimitotic Activity

J Nat Prod. 2016 May 27;79(5):1429-38. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00173. Epub 2016 Apr 21.

Abstract

A concise six-step protocol for the synthesis of isoflavone glaziovianin A (GVA) and its alkoxyphenyl derivatives 9 starting with readily available plant metabolites from dill and parsley seeds was developed. The reaction sequence involved an efficient conversion of the key intermediate epoxides 7 into the respective β-ketoaldehydes 8 followed by their Cu(I)-mediated cyclization into the target series 9. The biological activity of GVA and its derivatives was evaluated using a panel of seven human cancer cell lines and an in vivo sea urchin embryo assay. Both screening platforms confirmed the antimitotic effect of the parent GVA (9cg) and its alkoxy derivatives. Structure-activity relationship studies suggested that compounds 9cd and 9cf substituted with trimethoxy- and dillapiol-derived B-rings, respectively, were less active than the parent 9cg. Of the evaluated human cancer cell lines, the A375 melanoma cell line was the most sensitive to the tested molecules. Notably, the target compounds were not cytotoxic against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells up to 10 μM concentration. Phenotypic readouts from the sea urchin assay unequivocally suggest a direct microtubule-destabilizing effect of isoflavones 9cg, 9cd, and 9cf.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anethum graveolens / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Antimitotic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antimitotic Agents / chemistry
  • Antimitotic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Isoflavones / chemical synthesis*
  • Isoflavones / chemistry
  • Isoflavones / pharmacology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Petroselinum / chemistry*
  • Sea Urchins / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antimitotic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Isoflavones
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • glaziovianin A