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A simple and economical method was developed for the extraction and isolation of pentacyclic triterpenoid lantadene A from the leaves of Lantana camara. The lantadene A displays significant anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties via the inhibition of IKK-mediated NF-κB protein. Therefore, the derivatives of lantadene A were synthesised to further optimise the pharmacophore for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. The synthesised compounds were docked into the active site of IKK to find the most potent inhibitor of IKK. Molecular docking studies revealed that 3β,22β-diisobutyl substituted lantadene derivative (10) binds to the IKK protein with the highest affinity. Furthermore, in the in silico ADMET studies, the lead IKK inhibitor (10) was found to be Ames non-toxic, non-carcinogen, and a weak inhibitor of hERG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NSAIDs are among the most widely prescribed medications across the world, but the gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity still remains the biggest problem and the challenge for current NSAIDs-based therapeutics. The development of selective COX-2 inhibitors was driven by the assumption that selective inhibition of COX-2 would reduce the GI side effects. However, the initial enthusiasm for selective COX-2 inhibitors has faded away due to the emergence of serious side effects associated with the long-term use of these NSAIDs. In the recent years, a number of novel approaches to develop gastrosparing NSAIDs have been explored with the promising results. This review deals with such approaches and strategies that have been employed in the last two decades and are being used currently in the design and development of safer NSAIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the anticancer activity, structure-activity relationships (SAR), molecular mechanism, and in silico docking studies of nine pentacyclic triterpenoids derived from lantadene A. The NCI-60 cytotoxicity screening of synthesized compounds on 60 human tumor cell lines, representing nine different cancers revealed that compound 6 , bearing dual C-3 and C-22 butyryloxy substitutions at the pentacyclic triterpenoid scaffold, displays remarkable potency with mean growth inhibition of 98.7% at 10 μM. The SRB five-dose assay of compound 6 exhibited that it suppresses the growth of all NCI-60 cell lines with a GI 50 value in the single-digit micromolar range, except for one. The Western blot analysis revealed that compound 6 inhibits the expression of IKK-β and its down-stream effector NF-κB (p65). Molecular docking analysis of compound 6 with IKK-β showed hydrogen bond interactions with GLN425 and ARG427 and hydrophobic contact with PHE424 residues as the prominent interactions. Molecular dynamics simulation of the docked complex suggested that the complex was fairly stable. Compound 7 , possessing the isobutyryloxy groups at the analogous positions of compound 6 was the second-favorable anticancer agent. Conversely, the substitution of the hydroxy group in compounds emerged as the least favorable substitution at both the C-3 and C-22 positions of the pharmacophore. The presence of the 22 β -angeloyloxy side-chain, akin to the natural product lantadene A, exhibited moderate favorability for enhanced activity. As a whole, the cytotoxicity data of compounds underscores the preference for linear and extended substitutions at both the C-3 and C-22 positions of the pharmacophore for heightened activity.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the widely used medications all over the world, indicated for pain, fever, and inflammation. It is now well established that inflammation and cancer are closely linked with each other. Inflammatory mediators, like cyclooxygenase (COX), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor growth factor (TGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), chemokines, and cytokines and related genes, such as inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B kinase (IKK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) have been shown to be up-regulated in various cancers. Till date, numerous anticancer agents of different classes have been discovered to treat and eradicate various forms of cancer; though, limitations like cytotoxicity to normal cells and acquired tumor resistance restrict the scope of present cancer therapeutics. NSAIDs have shown to decrease the incidence, recurrence, and proliferation of various cancers, viz. colon, breast, lung, and pancreatic, etc. Therefore, the developing agents, such as NO-and H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing NSAIDs, NSAID-metal complexes, natural product-NSAID conjugates, phospho-NSAIDs, and various other NSAIDs derivatives represent the next generation therapeutics to treat both inflammation and cancer.

An emulsified gel of (+)-catechin was developed and evaluated topically against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted (DMBA-induced and TPA-promoted) squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in BALB/c mice. The biological evaluation outcome indicated that the (+)-catechin emulsified gel increased the activity of oxidative stress biomarkers glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), whereas it decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). The mechanistic study showed that genes implicated in the inflammation and cancer, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), were down-regulated by (+)-catechin emulsified gel while inhibiting an inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The (+)-catechin emulsified gel further suppressed the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, viz. tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The in vitro permeation study revealed that release of (+)-catechin from an emulsified gel base reached a steady state after 6 h, while pH of the entire emulsified gel was found to be between 6.2 and 6.5 that falls well within the normal pH range of the skin.

The activation of transcription factors nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κ B) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is critical in cancer; they act synergistically in promoting tumor growth, survival, and resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, combined targeting of NF-κ B and COX-2 present an opportunity for synergistic anticancer efficacy. The ester prodrugs of pentacyclic triterpenoids reduced lantadene A (3), B (4), and its congener 22β-hydroxyoleanonic acid (5) with various non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) present a novel approach. The ester prodrugs of 3 and 4 with diclofenac showed promising dual inhibition of NF-κ B and COX-2. The lead prodrugs 14 and 15 exhibited inhibition of inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B kinaseβ (IKKβ) in the single-digit micromolar range and at the same time, prodrugs 14 and 15 showed marked cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cell line with IC(₅₀s) 0.15 and 0.42 µM, respectively. The prodrugs 14 and 15 exhibited stability in the acidic pH and were hydrolyzed readily in the human blood plasma to release the active parent moieties. Thus, we have synthesized novel hybrid compounds to target both NF-κ B and COX-2 via a prodrug approach, leading to promising anticancer candidates.