Synthesis of madecassic acid derivatives and their cytotoxic activity

Fifteen new 28-amide derivatives of madecassic acid, isolated from the tropical medicinal herb Centella asiatica(Apiaceae), have been synthesised, and their cytotoxicity on three cancer cell lines, KB (carcinoma cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer) and Lu-1 (lung cancer), was evaluated. The results showed that acetylation of the 2,3,23-hydroxyl group and/or amidation of the 28-COOH group strongly increased the cytotoxicity of the synthesised compounds.