Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of usnic acid derivatives
- Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Jul 15;16(14):6860-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.05.069.
- 1. EA 4090 Substances lichéniques et photoprotection, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Rennes 1, 2 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
Nine usnic acid-amine conjugates were evaluated on murine and human Cancer cell lines. The polyamine derivatives showed significant cytotoxicity in L1210 cells. Their activities appeared to be independent of the polyamine transport system (PTS). Indeed, their activities were similar in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and in the PTS deficient CHO-MG cells. In addition, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor known to indirectly enhance the activity of the PTS and consequently increase the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic drugs entering cells via the PTS, had no effect on the activity of the polyamine derivatives. The more active derivative (1,8-diaminooctane derivative) displayed similar activities on all Cancer cell lines studied and induced Apoptosis.