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Abstract: Large series of O-alkyl derivatives (methyl and benzyl) of silybin and 2,3-dehydrosilybin was prepared. Selective alkylation of the silybin molecule was systematically investigated. For the first time we present here, for example, preparation of 19-nor-2,3-dehydrosilybin. All prepared silybin/2,3-dehydrosilybin derivatives were tested for cytotoxicity on a panel of drugs sensitive against multidrug resistant cell lines and the ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein mediated efflux activity. We have identified effective and relatively non-cytotoxic inhibitors of P-gp derived from 2,3-dehydrosilybin. Some of them were more effective inhibitors at concentrations lower than a standard P-gp efflux inhibitor cyclosporin A. Another group of 2,3-dehydrosilybin derivatives also had better inhibitory effects on P-gp efflux but a cytotoxicity comparable with that of parent 2,3-dehydrosilybin. Structural requirements for improving inhibitory activity and reducing toxicity of 2,3-dehydrosilybin were established. Effect of E-ring substitution as well as an influence of the substituent size at the C-7-OH position of A-ring on P-gp-inhibitory activity was evaluated for the first time in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Novel analogues of (+)-varitriol have been synthesised via Julia-Kocienski olefination from γ-D-ribonolactone. Newly prepared compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity towards certain human tumours and NCI60 cancer cell line panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cytokinin ribosides (N6-substituted adenosine derivatives) have been shown to have anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo. This study presents the first systematic analysis of the relationship between the chemical structure of cytokinins and their cytotoxic effects against a panel of human cancer cell lines with diverse histopathological origins. The results confirm the cytotoxic activity of N6-isopentenyladenosine, kinetin riboside, and N6-benzyladenosine and show that the spectrum of cell lines that are sensitive to these compounds and their tissues of origin are wider than previously reported. The first evidence that the hydroxylated aromatic cytokinins (ortho-, meta-, para-topolin riboside) and the isoprenoid cytokinin cis-zeatin riboside have cytotoxic activities is presented. Most cell lines in the panel showed greatest sensitivity to ortho-topolin riboside (IC50 =0.5–11.6μM). Cytokinin nucleotides, some synthesized for the first time in this study, were usually active in a similar concentration range to the corresponding ribosides. However, cytokinin free bases, 2-methylthio derivatives and both O- and N-glucosides showed little or no toxicity. Overall the study shows that structural requirements for cytotoxic activity of cytokinins against human cancer cell lines differ from the requirements for their activity in plant bioassays. The potent anticancer activity of ortho-topolin riboside (GI50 =0.07–84.60μM, 1st quartile=0.33μM, median=0.65μM, 3rd quartile=1.94μM) was confirmed using NCI60, a standard panel of 59 cell lines, originating from nine different tissues. Further, the activity pattern of oTR was distinctly different from those of standard anticancer drugs, suggesting that it has a unique mechanism of activity. In comparison with standard drugs, oTR showed exceptional cytotoxic activity against NCI60 cell lines with a mutated p53 tumour suppressor gene. oTR also exhibited significant anticancer activity against several tumour models in in vivo hollow fibre assays. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of the 3,7-diaryl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazines (17a–20f) have been synthesized in five steps. The cytotoxic activity of all of the newly synthesized compounds has been tested in vitro against five cancer cell lines. Several compounds demonstrated significant broad cytotoxic activity in low micromolar range, while others were selectively active against lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]