Dihydrobenzofuran Neolignanamides: Laccase-Mediated Biomimetic Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity

J Nat Prod. 2016 Aug 26;79(8):2122-34. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00577. Epub 2016 Aug 9.

Abstract

The biomimetic synthesis of a small library of dihydrobenzofuran neolignanamides (the natural trans-grossamide (4) and the related compounds 21-28) has been carried out through an eco-friendly oxidative coupling reaction mediated by Trametes versicolor laccase. These products, after complete spectroscopic characterization, were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against Caco-2 (colon carcinoma), MCF-7 (mammary adenocarcinoma), and PC-3 (prostate cancer) human cells, using an MTT bioassay. The racemic neolignamides (±)-21 and (±)-27, in being the most lipophilic in the series, were potently active, with GI50 values comparable to or even lower than that of the positive control 5-FU. The racemates were resolved through chiral HPLC, and the pure enantiomers were subjected to ECD measurements to establish their absolute configurations at C-2 and C-3. All enantiomers showed potent antiproliferative activity, with, in particular, a GI50 value of 1.1 μM obtained for (2R,3R)-21. The effect of (±)-21 on the Caco-2 cell cycle was evaluated by flow cytometry, and it was demonstrated that (±)-21 exerts its antiproliferative activity by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzofurans / chemical synthesis*
  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Benzofurans / pharmacology*
  • Biomimetics
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Laccase / metabolism*
  • Lignans / chemical synthesis*
  • Lignans / chemistry
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzofurans
  • Lignans
  • Laccase
  • Fluorouracil