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Design, Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationships Studies on the D Ring of the Natural Product Triptolide
Author(s) -
Xu Hongtao,
Tang Huanyu,
Feng Huijin,
Li Yuanchao
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemmedchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.817
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1860-7187
pISSN - 1860-7179
DOI - 10.1002/cmdc.201300409
Subject(s) - triptolide , natural product , tripterygium wilfordii , stereochemistry , chemistry , ring (chemistry) , cytotoxicity , furan , diterpene , lactone , structure–activity relationship , combinatorial chemistry , biochemistry , apoptosis , medicine , in vitro , organic chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
Triptolide is a diterpene triepoxide natural product isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Triptolide has previously been shown to possess antitumor, anti‐inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antifertility activities. Earlier reports suggested that the five‐membered unsaturated lactone ring (D ring) is essential for potent cytotoxicity, however, to the best of our knowledge, systematic structure–activity relationship studies have not yet been reported. Here, four types of D ring‐modified triptolide analogues were designed, synthesized and evaluated against human ovarian (SKOV‐3) and prostate (PC‐3) carcinoma cell lines. The results suggest that the D ring is essential to potency, however it can be modified, for example to C18 hydrogen bond acceptor and/or donor furan ring analogues, without complete loss of cytotoxic activity. Interestingly, evaluation of the key series of C19 analogues showed that this site is exquisitely sensitive to polarity. Together, these results will guide further optimization of this natural product lead compound for the development of potent and potentially clinically useful triptolide analogues.