Mitochondria-targeted betulinic and ursolic acid derivatives: synthesis and anticancer activity.

ABSTRACT: A series of new betulinic and ursolic acid conjugates with a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation, meant to enhance the bioavailability and mitochondriotropic action of natural triterpenes, have been synthesized. The in vitro experiments on three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116 and TET21N) revealed that all the obtained triphenylphosphonium triterpene acid derivatives not only showed higher cytotoxicity as compared to betulinic acid but were also markedly superior in triggering mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, as assessed using a range of apoptosis markers such as cytochrome c release, stimulation of caspase-3 activity, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which is one of the targets of caspase 3. The IC₅₀ was much lower for all triphenylphosphonium derivatives when compared to betulinic acid. Out of the tested group of conjugates, the most potent toxicity was exhibited by the betulinic acid conjugate 9 (for 9, the IC₅₀ values against MCF-7 and TET21N cells were 0.70 ?M and 0.74 ?M; for betulinic acid (BA), IC₅₀ > 25 ?M against MCF-7 cells).

SUBMITTER: Nedopekina DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6072465 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature