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The first total synthesis of the pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline alkaloid trigonoine B (1) was accomplished via a six-step sequence involving the construction of an N-substituted 4-aminopyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline framework via electrocyclization of 2-(pyrrol-3-yl)benzene containing a carbodiimide moiety as a 2-azahexatriene system. The employed six-step sequence afforded trigonoine B (1) in 9.2% overall yield. The described route could be employed for the preparation of various N-substituted 4-aminopyrroloquinolines with various biological activities.

Ellipticine, olivacine, and their five reduced natural variants were synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization/cross-coupling reaction as the key step. In addition, a previously unknown conformer of janetine was obtained through conformational inversion of the D ring in janetine. Because there are few synthetic approaches for reduced natural variants, little is known about the biological activities of these compounds. Six synthetic natural alkaloids and five of their derivatives were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 and HL-60 cells. The activities of variants with the D-reduced ring or without the C(11)-Me group were lower than those of ellipticine. The conformer of guatambuine showed higher activities than guatambuine.

We developed a concise protocol for the synthesis of ellipticine quinone from the appropriate 3-iodoindole-2-carbaldehydes in four steps. The key step is the construction of carbazole-1,4-quinone through tandem Ring-Closing Metathesis (RCM) and dehydrogenation under oxygen atmosphere. Therefore, the ellipticine quinone analogs possessing substitution at the 8- and/or 9-positions were synthesized using this method. In total, 14 compounds were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 and HL-60 cell lines; 9-nitroellipticine quinone was found to have superior activity compared to calothrixin B.

The ability of catechins and their related compounds to inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) function in Caco-2 cell monolayers was investigated with mitoxantrone as a BCRP substrate. The gallate or pyrogallol moiety on the catechin structure seemed to promote increased cellular accumulation and inhibit efflux transport of mitoxantrone. The ability of gallate catechins such as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) to increase cellular accumulation and inhibit efflux transport of mitoxantrone was greater than that of nongallate catechins. Gallic acid octyl ester (GAO) also increased intracellular mitoxantrone accumulation. Experiments using GAO derivatives indicated that the gallate moiety required the presence of a long carbon chain for BCRP inhibition. Cellular accumulation and reduced efflux transport of mitoxantrone were greater with epigallocatechin 3-(3″-O-butyl) gallate than with EGCG. EGCG inhibition of BCRP seemed to be restricted by hydrophobicity. The co-administration of catechins, particularly EGCG and related compounds, with greater hydrophobicity may increase the therapeutic activities of BCRP substrates such as mitoxantrone.

Many studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress plays an important role in several ailments including neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemic injury. Previously we synthesized some carbazole compounds that have anti-oxidant ability in vitro. In this present study, we found that one of these 22 carbazole compounds, compound 13 (3-ethoxy-1-hydroxy-8- methoxy-2-methylcarbazole-5-carbaldehyde), had the ability to protect neuro2a cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. It is well known that neurite loss is one of the cardinal features of neuronal injury. Our present study revealed that compound 13 had the ability to induce neurite outgrowth through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in neuro2a cells. These findings suggest that compound 13 might exert a neurotrophic effect and thus be a useful therapy for the treatment of brain injury.

Concise syntheses of 9-methoxyellipticine, 3,4-dihydroellipticine (µ-alkaloid D), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroellipticine, 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroellipticine, olivacine, 3,4-dihydroolivacine, (±)-guatambuine, and (±)-janetine were developed starting from hexatriene intermediates readily obtained by Pd-catalyzed tandem cyclization/cross-coupling reaction of indolylborates. The route enables the facile construction of pyrido[4,3-b]carbazoles by Cu-catalyzed 6π-electrocyclization and subsequent transformation of the pyridocarbazole intermediates into pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole alkaloids.

In this study, the total syntheses of 1,3,4-trisubstituted carbazole alkaloid clausamine E was accomplished via an eight-step sequence using construction of the 1,4-dioxygenated carbazole framework based on the cyclocarbonylation between 3-iodo-2-(prop-2-enyl)indole and CO (1 atm) in the presence of tributyl(vinyl)tin and a Pd catalyst.

This review covers the literature on simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit from the beginning of 2012 up to the end of 2013, which includes newly isolated alkaloids, structure determinations, total syntheses and biological activities.

Antioxidant activities of 3-oxygenated and 3,4-dioxygenated carbazole alkaloids and their related carbazoles were comprehensively evaluated. In all assay systems, the 3,8-dihydroxycarbazoles carbazomadurin A (2) and B (3), and their synthetic precursors 2a and 3a exhibited higher antioxidant activities than the 3-monohydroxycarbazoles carazostatin (1), and the synthetic precursors 4a and 4b of carquinostatin A (4). In particular, 2a and 3a exhibited strong scavenging activities due to the reducing ability of formyl group at the C-5 position of carbazoles. The results suggest that these compounds could serve as useful clues for designing and developing novel antioxidants.

Calothrixin B, whose structure consists of a pentacyclic indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine framework, was originally isolated as a secondary metabolite from Calothrix cyanobacteria and was found to exhibit potent antiproliferative activity. In this study, treatment with 100 μM of calothrixin B did not inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, the result indicated that calothrixin B could possess weaker activity against leukemia cells. In a previous study of the structure–antiproliferative activity relationships of calothrixin B analogs, the tetracyclic 5H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole-4,11(6H)-dione structure, which does not include the benzene ring found in calothrixin B, was reported to be necessary for antiproliferative activity; however, the induction of substituents on the indole nitrogen atom of calothrixin B decreased the antiproliferative activity of the compound. To develop calothrixin B analogs with good antiproliferative activity against both HL-60 and HCT-116 cells, we synthesized various N-substituted calothrixin B analogs and assessed their activity. Compared with calothrixin B, N-OMe calothrixin B displayed almost the same or slightly stronger antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 cells, whereas the N-MOM analog demonstrated slightly weaker activity against these cells. These two analogs also inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells, whereas calothrixin B did not exhibit antiproliferative activity toward these cells. Among calothrixin B analogs, N-OMe and N-MOM calothrixins B are cytotoxic against HCT-116 cells and not the lack of the effect on HL-60 cells.

A novel one-pot synthesis of carbazole-1,4-quinone by consecutive Pd-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation, desilylation, and oxidation reactions is described. We propose a possible mechanism of the cyclocarbonylation reaction between 3-iodo-2-propenylindole and CO (1 atm) in the presence of a tributyl(vinyl)tin and Pd-catalyst and the resulting acylpalladium species was directly coupled with a terminal alkene to produce the carbazole-1,4-quinone. To our knowledge, this is the first example of this type of reaction. A new formal total synthesis of a carbazole-1,4-quinone alkaloid, murrayaquinone A was established using this reaction.

We report a convenient synthesis of carbazole-1,4-quinone alkaloid koeniginequinones A and B using a tandem ring-closing metathesis with the dehydrogenation reaction sequence under an O2 atmosphere as an important step. Using this method, carbazole-1,4-quinones substituted at the 5-, 6-, 7-, and/or 8-positions have been synthesized. Moreover, 24 compounds, including koeniginequinones A and B, have been evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 and HL-60 cells, and the 6-nitro analog exhibited the most potent activity against both tumor cell types.

In this study, the first asymmetric enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-asiaticumine A (2) and its enantiomer were accomplished through a seven-step sequence using the bond formation between the C4a and N5 positions of the phenanthridine framework based on the microwave-assisted electrocyclization of cyclohexenylbenzaldoxime methyl ether as an aza 6π-hexatriene system followed by the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step. In addition, the absolute configuration of natural (+)-2 was determined to be S by Mosher’s method.

The total syntheses of the neuronal cell-protecting carbazole alkaloids carbazomadurin A and (S)-(+)-carbazomadurin B were achieved. The key step of the synthesis of the polysubstituted carbazole rings included an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction of the 6π-electron system that involved the indole 2,3-bond. The cleavage of the alkoxy groups of the resulting 3-ethoxy-8-isopropoxycarbazole successfully gave the 3,8-dihydroxycarbazole, which was converted into the 3,8-bis(OSEM)-carbazole (SEM = 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl). A Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of the 3,8-bis(OSEM)-carbazole with the corresponding alkenyl pinacol borates afforded the 1-alkenylcarbazoles, which were treated with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) followed by reduction with NaBH4 to provide carbazomadurin A and (S)-(+)-carbazomadurin B, respectively.

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ) is one of the most abundant quinones among diesel exhaust particulates. Recent data have suggested that quinones induce apoptosis in immune, epithelial and tumor cells, leading to respirator illness; however, the mechanisms by which quinones induce apoptosis and the structure required for this remain unknown. We studied the antitumor activity of 9,10-PQ analogs against two human tumor cell lines, HCT-116 colon tumor cells and HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. The loss of the cis -orthoquinone unit in 9,10-PQ abrogated its ability to induce apoptosis in the two tumor cell lines, and the LC 50 values of these analogs were indicated over 10 μM. An analog of 9,10-PQ in which the biaryl unit had been deleted displayed a reduced ability to induce tumor cell apoptosis, while the analogs 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione ( 9 ) and pyrene-4,5-dione ( 10 ), which also had modified biaryl units, exhibited increased tumor cell apoptotic activity. The cis -orthoquinone unit in 9,10-PQ was identified as essential for its ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, and its biaryl unit is also considered to influence orthoquinone-mediated apoptotic activity.

Oligomeric forms of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) are thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanism involved is still unclear. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from familial and sporadic AD patients and differentiated them into neural cells. Aβ oligomers accumulated in iPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes in cells from patients with a familial amyloid precursor protein (APP)-E693Δ mutation and sporadic AD, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress. The accumulated Aβ oligomers were not proteolytically resistant, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) treatment alleviated the stress responses in the AD neural cells. Differential manifestation of ER stress and DHA responsiveness may help explain variable clinical results obtained with the use of DHA treatment and suggests that DHA may in fact be effective for a subset of patients. It also illustrates how patient-specific iPSCs can be useful for analyzing AD pathogenesis and evaluating drugs., Cell Stem Cell, 12(4), pp.487-496; 2013

(S)-(–)-Dichotomine A and its enantiomer were synthesized from the key intermediate, methyl 1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-β-carboline-3-carboxylate, by enantioselective esterification with Lipase QLM. The first total synthesis of (+)-dichotomide II and its enantiomer were also achieved from (S)-(–)-dichotomine A methyl ester and its enantiomer. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic center of the reported (+)-dichotomide II was determined to be R.

The ability of catechins and their related compounds to inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) function in Caco-2 cell monolayers was investigated with mitoxantrone as a BCRP substrate. The gallate or pyrogallol moiety on the catechin structure seemed to promote increased cellular accumulation and inhibit efflux transport of mitoxantrone. The ability of gallate catechins such as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) to increase cellular accumulation and inhibit efflux transport of mitoxantrone was greater than that of nongallate catechins. Gallic acid octyl ester (GAO) also increased intracellular mitoxantrone accumulation. Experiments using GAO derivatives indicated that the gallate moiety required the presence of a long carbon chain for BCRP inhibition. Cellular accumulation and reduced efflux transport of mitoxantrone were greater with epigallocatechin 3-(3″-O-butyl) gallate than with EGCG. EGCG inhibition of BCRP seemed to be restricted by hydrophobicity. The co-administration of catechins, particularly EGCG and related compounds, with greater hydrophobicity may increase the therapeutic activities of BCRP substrates such as mitoxantrone.

We report a convenient synthesis of carbazole-1,4-quinone alkaloid koeniginequinones A and B using a tandem ring-closing metathesis with the dehydrogenation reaction sequence under an O2 atmosphere as an important step. Using this method, carbazole-1,4-quinones substituted at the 5-, 6-, 7-, and/or 8-positions have been synthesized. Moreover, 24 compounds, including koeniginequinones A and B, have been evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 and HL-60 cells, and the 6-nitro analog exhibited the most potent activity against both tumor cell types.

The palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization/cross-coupling reaction of triethyl(indol-2-yl)borate with vinyl bromide was successfully used in the concise total synthesis of the indolophenanthridine alkaloids, calothrixins A and B.

A new entry to the total synthesis of isocryptolepine (cryptosanguinolentine), isolated from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, was achieved by constructing a tetracyclic ring system through a microwave-assisted tandem Curtius rearrangement and electrocyclic reaction of an aza 6π-electron system. The tetracyclic lactam was converted to isocryptolepine in a four-step sequence.

Activation of glia has been observed in various neurodegenerative diseases. Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO), as a consequence of increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in glia, contributes to the neurodegeneration. The enhancement of intracellular stresses such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been also implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders. During a search for compounds that regulate ER stress, a dibenzoylmethane derivative, 2,2′-dimethoxydibenzoylmethane (DBM 14-26), was identified as a novel neuroprotective agent (Takano et al. [2007] Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 293:C1884–C1894). In the present study, we found that DBM 14-26 protected cultured astrocytes from H2O2-induced cytotoxicity at lower concentrations than antioxidants, GSH and N-acetyl cysteine. DBM 14-26 prevented the productionof reactive oxygen species in the cells exposed to H2O2 as evaluated by fluorescent intensity of dichlorofluorescein. Further examination revealed that DBM 14-26 inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced iNOS expression and NO production. DBM 14-26 suppressed LPS-stimulated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation evaluated by p65 immunostaining and gel retardation electrophoresis. These results indicate thatDBM 14-26 protects astrocytes from oxidative stress and suppresses astrocytes activation via inhibition of NF-κB activation. Functional regulation of astrocytes by DBM 14-26 could be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Total syntheses of the des-N-methyl (nor) type of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids 1a–f and 19 and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, chelerythrine (2d), and broussonpapyrine (2f) were achieved. The key step was the construction of tetracyclic 10,11-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines using a microwave-assisted electrocyclic reaction of the 2-cycloalkenylbenzaldoxime methyl ether 4 as an aza 6π-electron system, which was derived in two steps from a Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of 2-bromobenzaldehyde 6 with 2-(3,4-dihydro-6,7-methylenedioxynaphthyl)boronic acid pinacol ester 7. In addition, the exact structure of broussonpapyrine (2f) (2,3,9,10-tetraoxygenated type) was determined to be chelerythrine (2d).

A one-pot approach to indolo[2,1- b ]quinazolines from indole-3-carbaldehydes through the Dakin oxidation was developed. It was shown that the reaction proceeded through the condensation of indole-3-carbaldehydes with isatoic anhydrides, derived in situ from indole-3-carbaldehydes by the Dakin oxidation, and further oxidation/cyclization steps.

Steric and enthalpic effects of substituents on diene moieties play a crucial role in intramolecular cycloaddition reactions. Allenyl 2-halogenated-3-vinylcyclohex-2-enyl ethers underwent a tandem [4+2] cycloaddition/aromatization reaction to afford the corresponding tetrahydro- 3H -naphtho[1,8- bc ]furan compound in high yield.

A new total synthesis of the neuronal cell-protecting carbazole alkaloid carbazomadurin A is described. The key step was an allene-mediated electrocyclic reaction involving an indole [b]-bond for the construction of a highly substituted carbazole ring. The E-alkenyl side chain at the C1 position of carbazole was introduced between O-triflate and alkenyl pinacol borate using the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. SEM groups were cleaved with TBAF and the formyl group was reduced to provide carbazomadurin A.

Since the six-year education system for pharmacy students was established in 2006,educational programs to cultivate humanism in pharmacists have been an important part of the curriculum in each year.In Fukuyama University,a program providing contact with elderly people in day-care centers and children in nursery schools was introduced for second-year under graduate pharmacy students in 2007,in order to cultivate students’ability to communicate and empathize with them.Analysis of the results of a questionnaire survey on the effects of the exchange education program that we conducted for 3 years revealed the following.On the first visit,many students could not communicate well with either the elderly people or the children but from the 2nd visit onwards,almost all students were able to communicate and control the level of their voice better,and have more eye contact.As the communication program went on,students were able to build close relationships with their partners.The results of the questionnaire also showed that almost all students were satisfied with the communication education program at both facilities and their partners were also satisfied with it.In addition,good cooperation with the facilities produced a stepwise increase in student satisfaction rates over the three years.These results suggest that communication education plays an important role by cultivating hospitality skills and having students think about their behavior as medical professionals.

The total synthesis of the 2-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, scorpinone (4), isolated from the mycelium of a Bispora-like tropical fungus, has been completed in nine steps. The two key steps involve a microwave-assisted thermal electrocyclic reaction for the synthesis of an 8-oxygenated isoquinoline skeleton from a 1-aza 6π-hexatriene system, and a regioselective microwave-assisted [4+2] cycloaddition for the construction of a 2-azaanthraquinone framework.

Enhanced levels of intracellular stresses such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are implicated in various neuropathological conditions including brain ischemia and neurodegeneration. During a search for compounds that regulate ER stress and ER stress-induced cell death, we identified a carbazole derivative 16-14 [9-(3-cyanobenzyl)-1,4-dimethylcarbazole] that protected against both ER stress and glutathione depletion. 16-14 suppressed tunicamycin (Tm)-induced cell death in both F9 Herp KO cells and PC12 cells, and its regulation of ER stress was associated with reduced levels of unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling. ER stress caused by overexpression of a fluorescent ER-resident protein, GFP-KDEL, was also attenuated by 16-14 without altering the expression levels of GFP-KDEL. 16-14 also prevented glutathione depletion-induced cell death caused by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), but not likely via its anti-oxidative activity. Further analysis revealed that 16-14 suppressed increases in intracellular Ca2+ in response to thapsigargin (Tg). These results suggest that 16-14 may protect cells against different stresses via the maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.[Supplementary Fig. 1: available only at http://dx.doi.org/10.1254/jphs.08136FP] Keywords:: neuronal cell death, stress response, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), glutathione, neuroprotection

The enhancement of intracellular stresses such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). During a search for compounds that regulate ER stress, a dibenzoylmethane (DBM) derivative 14-26 (2,2′-dimethoxydibenzoylmethane) was identified as a novel neuroprotective agent. Analysis in SH-SY5Y cells and in PC12 cells revealed that the regulation of ER stress by 14-26 was associated with its anti-oxidative property. 14-26 prevented the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when the cells were exposed to oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or an ER stressor brefeldin A (BFA). 14-26 also prevented ROS-induced damage in both the ER and the mitochondria, including the protein carbonylation in the microsome and the reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Further examination disclosed the presence of the iron-chelating activity in 14-26. In vivo, 14-26 suppressed both oxidative stress and ER stress and prevented neuronal death in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) after injection of 6-OHDA in mice. These results suggest that 14-26 is an antioxidant that protects dopaminergic neurons against both oxidative stress and ER stress and could be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of PD.

The O4-benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids exhibit potent antiproliferative activity against cancer cells, which is derived from their ability to inhibit of topoisomerase I and II. It has been reported that in the alkaloids a cationic quaternary ammonium atom, which results in resonance effects between ring A and B, is necessary for increased antiproliferative activity. These findings indicate the role of their substituents at ring A on inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. In the present study, we systematically assessed the cytotoxic activities of naturally occurring alkaloids and their derivatives containing various ring A substituents against two tumor cell lines, HCT-116 colon tumor cells and HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Among the cationic iminium alkaloids, which displayed more potent activity than the corresponding neutral derivatives, and the 7,8-oxygenated benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, chelerythrine and NK109, exhibited stronger antiproliferative activity than the 8,9- and 9,10-oxygenated alkaloids. The activity of cationic iminium alkaloids could be correlated with the bond lengths of their ring A substituents and the electrostatic potentials of their ammonium molecules by DFT calculation.

The alkaloid tryptanthrin (IIa) is further converted into the natural products phaitanthrin A (IXa), phaitanthrin B (IXb), and cruciferane (X).

We synthesized 9alpha-fluoromedroxyprogesterone acetate (FMPA) in order to test whether it is a more potent anti-angiogenic agent than medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), which has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for breast and endometrium cancers. FMPA was previously synthesized in 10 steps (total yield: 1%). An efficient synthesis of FMPA has been achieved in 6 steps (total yield: 12%). We examined the anti-tumor effect of FMPA, complexed with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD), on rat mammary carcinomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). FMPA showed great anti-tumor effect on DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinomas.