Synthesis of Rhodamine-Conjugated Lupane Type Triterpenes of Enhanced Cytotoxicity

oleh: Toni C. Denner, Niels V. Heise, Sophie Hoenke, René Csuk

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-05-01

Deskripsi

Various conjugates with rhodamines were prepared by starting with betulinic acid (<b>BA</b>) and platanic acid (<b>PA</b>). The molecules homopiperazine and piperazine, which were identified in earlier research, served as linkers between the rhodamine and the triterpene. The pentacyclic triterpene’s ring A was modified with two acetyloxy groups in order to possibly boost its cytotoxic activity. The SRB assays’ cytotoxicity data showed that conjugates <b>13</b>–<b>22</b>, derived from betulinic acid, had a significantly higher cytotoxicity. Of these hybrids, derivatives <b>19</b> (containing rhodamine B) and <b>22</b> (containing rhodamine 101) showed the best values with EC<sub>50</sub> = 0.016 and 0.019 μM for A2780 ovarian carcinoma cells. Additionally, based on the ratio of EC<sub>50</sub> values, these two compounds demonstrated the strongest selectivity between malignant A2780 cells and non-malignant NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. A375 melanoma cells were used in cell cycle investigations, which showed that the cells were halted in the G1/G0 phase. Annexin V/FITC/PI staining demonstrated that the tumor cells were affected by both necrosis and apoptosis.