Current antineoplastic agents present multiple disadvantages, driving an ongoing search for new and better compounds. Four lupane-type triterpenes, 3α,24-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (1), 3α,23-dihydroxy-30-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), 3α,23-O-isopropylidenyl-3α,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), and 3α,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4), previously isolated from Phoradendron wattii, were evaluated on two cell lines of chronic (K562) and acute (HL60) myeloid leukemia. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 decreased cell viability and inhibit proliferation, mainly in K562, and exhibited an apoptotic effect from 24 h of treatment. Of particular interest is compound 2, which caused arrest in active phases (G2/M) of the cell cycle, as shown by in silico study of the CDK1/Cyclin B/Csk2 complex by molecular docking. This compound [3α,23-dihydroxy-30-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid] s a promising candidate for incorporation into cancer treatments and deserves further study.

Leukemia is one of the most frequent types of cancer. No effective treatment currently exists, driving a search for new compounds. Simple structural modifications were made to novel triterpenes isolated from Phoradendron wattii. Of the three resulting derivatives, 3α-methoxy-24-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (T1m) caused a decrease in the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) on the K562 cell line. Its mode of action was apparently apoptosis, ROS generation, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Molecular docking analysis showed T1m to produce lower binding energies than its precursor for the Bcl-2 and EGFR proteins. Small, simple, and viable modifications to triterpenes can improve their activity against leukemia cell lines. T1m is a potentially promising element for future research. Clarifying the targets in its mode of action will improve its applicability.

Abstract. Chalcone-vitamin E hybrids 6’-O-tosyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy-δ-tocopherol-chalcone (1), 3,4,5-trimethoxy-δ-tocopherol-chalcone (2), 6’-O-tosyl-3,4,5-trimethoxy-δ-tocopherol-retrochalcone (3) and 3,4,5-trimethoxy-δ-tocopherol-retrochalcone (4) were synthesized as part of a search for new biological activities in these types of derivatives. We report herein on the photoisomerization products of hybrids 1-4, and the effects of the solvent and substitution patterns in producing secondary products such as flavanone 6, 3-deoxyanthocyanidin 8, and hemiketal 10. Photochemically-induced changes are considered important since structural modifications and/or the presence of additional products can affect the biological activity of this type of semisynthetic hybrids.   Resumen. Los híbridos de chalcona-vitamina E, 6’-O-tosil-3,4,5-trimetoxi-δ-tocoferol-chalcona (1), 3,4,5-trimetoxi-δ-tocoferol-chalcona (2), 6’-O-tosil-3,4,5-trimetoxi-δ-tocoferol-retrochalcona (3) y 3,4,5-trimetoxi-δ-tocoferol-retrochalcona (4), fueron sintetizados como parte de la búsqueda de nuevos perfiles de actividad biológica para este tipo de derivados. En este trabajo reportamos los productos de fotoisomerización de los híbridos 1-4, y los efectos del disolvente, así como de distintos patrones de sustitución en la generación de productos secundarios como la flavanona 6, la 3-deoxiantocianidina 8, y el hemicetal 10. Los cambios fotoinducidos son considerados de gran importancia debido a que la modificación en la estructura y/o la presencia de productos adicionales puede afectar la actividad biológica de este tipo de híbridos semisintéticos.

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