1. Antiproliferative cardenolides from Pentopetia androsaemifolia Decne. from the Madagascar rain forest.
- Author
-
Adou E, Miller JS, Ratovoson F, Birkinshaw C, Andriantsiferana R, Rasamison VE, and Kingston DG
- Subjects
- Cardenolides isolation & purification, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Survival drug effects, Humans, Madagascar, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Molecular Structure, Plant Extracts isolation & purification, Plant Extracts pharmacology, Plant Roots chemistry, Plant Stems chemistry, Apocynaceae chemistry, Cardenolides pharmacology, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Trees chemistry
- Abstract
Plant natural products have historically been very important to drug discovery and development, particularly in the anticancer field. This is illustrated by a discussion of the structures and activities of camptothecin and its analogues, paclitaxel (Taxol), the vinca alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine, and podophyllotoxin and its analogues. A description of the isolation of one new and three known cardenolides from the Madagascar plant Pentopetia androsaemifolia is then provided as an example of this approach to drug discovery. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of betulinic acid, an old compound which is being developed into an anticancer and anti-HIV agent, and ipomoeassin F, an interesting antiproliferative compound isolated from a plant collected in Suriname.
- Published
- 2010