Design, Synthesis, and Investigation of Cytotoxic Activity of <i>cis</i>-Vinylamide-Linked Combretastatin Analogues as Potential Anticancer Agents

oleh: Tarfah Al-Warhi, Leena S. Alqahtani, Ghadi Alsharif, Matokah Abualnaja, Ola A. Abu Ali, Safa H. Qahl, Hussam Awwadh E. Althagafi, Fahad Alharthi, Ibrahim Jafri, Fahmy G. Elsaid, Ali A. Shati, Salman Aloufi, Eman Fayad, Islam Zaki, Martha M. Morcoss

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-10-01

Deskripsi

The combretastatins (<i>cis</i>-stilbenoid molecules) have received significant interest because of their simple chemical structures, excellent antiproliferative activity, and novel anti-tubulin molecular mechanism of action. Significant efforts have been carried out aiming at stabilizing the active <i>cis</i>-isomers. A new series of <i>cis</i>-vinylamide derivatives containing trimethoxyphenyl moiety were synthesized and characterized. Their anticancer activities were evaluated in vitro against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Compounds <b>2f</b>, <b>3</b>, and <b>5</b> displayed potent cytotoxic activity against the breast cancer cell line compared with CA-4 as the reference compound. The microtubule polymerization assay and flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the cytotoxic activity of compound <b>3</b> was related to inhibitory activity against tubulin polymerization. Compound <b>3</b> showed pro-apoptotic activity by inducting a significant increase in the percentage of pre-G1 phase in DNA flow cytometry compared to untreated control. The pro-apoptotic activity of compound <b>3</b> was inferred by a significant increase in the percentage of fluorescent annexin V/PI positive apoptotic cells. It also increased the level of caspase 3 compared to the untreated control.