Catalytic Sulfation of Betulin with Sulfamic Acid: Experiment and DFT Calculation

Betulin is an important triterpenoid substance isolated from birch bark, which, together with its sulfates, exhibits important bioactive properties. We report on a newly developed method of betulin sulfation with sulfamic acid in pyridine in the presence of an Amberlyst^®15 solid acid catalyst. It has been shown that this catalyst remains stable when being repeatedly (up to four cycles) used and ensures obtaining of sulfated betulin with a sulfur content of ~10%. The introduction of the sulfate group into the betulin molecule has been proven by Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra contain absorption bands at 1249 and 835–841 cm⁻¹; in the UV spectra, the peak intensity decreases; and, in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, of betulin disulfate, carbons С3 and С28 are completely shifted to the weak-field region (to 88.21 and 67.32 ppm, respectively) with respect to betulin. Using the potentiometric titration method, the product of acidity constants K₁ and K₂ of a solution of the betulin disulfate H⁺ form has been found to be 3.86 × 10^–6 ± 0.004. It has been demonstrated by the thermal analysis that betulin and the betulin disulfate sodium salt are stable at temperatures of up to 240 and 220 °C, respectively. The density functional theory method has been used to obtain data on the most stable conformations, molecular electrostatic potential, frontier molecular orbitals, and mulliken atomic charges of betulin and betulin disulfate and to calculate the spectral characteristics of initial and sulfated betulin, which agree well with the experimental data.     

The Influence of Betulin and Its Derivatives EB5 and ECH147 on the Antioxidant Status of Human Renal Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells

Betulin and its derivatives, 28-propyne derivative EB5 and 29-diethyl phosphonate analog ECH147, are promising compounds in anti-tumor activity studies. However, their effect on kidney cells has not yet been studied. The study aimed to determine whether betulin and its derivatives—EB5 and ECH147—influence the viability and oxidative status of human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTECs). The total antioxidant capacity of cells (TEAC), lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPX) were evaluated. Additionally, the mRNA level of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes was assessed. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were used as reference substances. Betulin and its derivatives affected the viability and antioxidant systems of RPTECs. Betulin strongly reduced TEAC in a concentration-dependent manner. All tested compounds caused an increase in MDA levels. The activity of SOD, CAT, and GPX, and the mRNA profiles of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes depended on the tested compound and its concentration. Betulin showed an cisplatin-like effect, indicating its nephrotoxic potential. Betulin derivatives EB5 and ECH147 showed different impacts on the antioxidant system, which gives hope that these compounds will not cause severe consequences for the kidneys in vivo.     

Cytotoxic Potential of a-Azepano- and 3-Amino-3,4-SeCo-Triterpenoids

Semi-synthetic triterpenoids, holding an amino substituted seven-membered A-ring (azepano-ring), which could be synthesized from triterpenic oximes through a Beckmann type rearrangement followed by a reduction of lactame fragment, are considered to be novel promising agents exhibiting anti-microbial, alpha-glucosidase, and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. In this study, in an attempt to develop new antitumor candidates, a series of A-ring azepano- and 3-amino-3,4-seco-derivatives of betulin, oleanolic, ursolic, and glycyrrhetinic acids were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines and non-malignant mouse fibroblasts by means of a colorimetric sulforhodamine assay. Azepanoallobetulinic acid amide derivative 11 was the most cytotoxic compound of this series but showed little selectivity between the different human tumor cell lines. Flow cytometry experiments showed compound 11 to act mainly by apoptosis (44.3%) and late apoptosis (21.4%). The compounds were further screened at the National Cancer Institute towards a panel of 60 cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 20 showed growth inhibitory (GI₅₀) against the most sensitive cell lines at submicromolar concentrations (0.20–0.94 μM), and their cytotoxic activity (LC₅₀) was also high (1–6 μM). Derivatives 3, 8, 11, 15, and 16 demonstrated a certain selectivity profile at GI₅₀ level from 5.16 to 9.56 towards K-562, CCRF-CEM, HL-60(TB), and RPMI-8226 (Leukemia), HT29 (Colon cancer), and OVCAR-4 (Ovarian cancer) cell lines. Selectivity indexes of azepanoerythrodiol 3 at TGI level ranged from 5.93 (CNS cancer cell lines SF-539, SNB-19 and SNB-75) to 14.89 for HCT-116 (colon cancer) with SI 9.56 at GI₅₀ level for the leukemia cell line K-562. The present study highlighted the importance of A-azepano-ring in the triterpenic core for the development of novel antitumor agents, and a future aim to increase the selectivity profile will thus lie in the area of modifications of azepano-triterpenic acids at their carboxyl group.     

Betulin Sulfonamides as Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Anticancer Agents in Breast Cancer Cells

Hypoxia-regulated protein carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is up-regulated in different tumor entities and correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Due to the radio- and chemotherapy resistance of solid hypoxic tumors, derivatives of betulinic acid (BA), a natural compound with anticancer properties, seem to be promising to benefit these cancer patients. We synthesized new betulin sulfonamides and determined their cytotoxicity in different breast cancer cell lines. Additionally, we investigated their effects on clonogenic survival, cell death, extracellular pH, HIF-1α, CA IX and CA XII protein levels and radiosensitivity. Our study revealed that cytotoxicity increased after treatment with the betulin sulfonamides compared to BA or their precursors, especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. CA IX activity as well as CA IX and CA XII protein levels were reduced by the betulin sulfonamides. We observed elevated inhibitory efficiency against protumorigenic processes such as proliferation and clonogenic survival and the promotion of cell death and radiosensitivity compared to the precursor derivatives. In particular, TNBC cells showed benefit from the addition of sulfonamides onto BA and revealed that betulin sulfonamides are promising compounds to treat more aggressive breast cancers, or are at the same level against less aggressive breast cancer cells.     

反相高效液相色谱法测定女贞子中桦木醇含量

采用反相高效液相色谱法测定女贞子中桦木醇含量,考察了不同溶剂提取方法对女贞子中桦木醇含量测定的影响。色谱柱,Supelcosil LC-PAH C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm);流动相,V(乙腈)∶V(水)∶V(磷酸)=830∶170∶1;体积流量,1.0 mL/min;检测波长,210 nm;采用外标法测定桦木醇含量。结果表明,使用正丁醇和超声提取女贞子中桦木醇的含量较高。桦木醇在2~20μg与峰面积具有良好线性关系,平均回收率为98.87%,RSD为1.91%(n=5)。该方法简便、稳定、重现性好,可用于女贞子药材的质量控制。     

非金属选择性催化氧化桦木醇制备桦木酸

为高效获得医药中间体桦木酸,以2,2,6,6-四甲基哌啶-氮-氧化物(TEMPO)为催化剂,使用非金属选择性氧化桦木醇,在氧化28位碳上羟基的同时,避免氧化其他基团。确定最优工艺条件为:使用二溴海因作氧化剂,反应温度为25℃,反应时间为1 h,最后得率可达72%。本反应为单一相反应,不需使用相转移催化剂。不但提高了产率,且大大缩短了反应时间,同时使反应条件更加温和。     

New Investigations with Lupane Type A-Ring Azepane Triterpenoids for Antimycobacterial Drug Candidate Design

Twenty lupane type A-ring azepano-triterpenoids were synthesized from betulin and its related derivatives and their antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mono-resistant MTB strains, and nontuberculous strains Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium avium were investigated in the framework of AToMIc (Anti-mycobacterial Target or Mechanism Identification Contract) realized by the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, NIAID, National Institute of Health. Of all the tested triterpenoids, 17 compounds showed antitubercular activity and 6 compounds were highly active on the H37Rv wild strain (with MIC 0.5 µM for compound 7), out of which 4 derivatives also emerged as highly active compounds on the three mono-resistant MTB strains. Molecular docking corroborated with a machine learning drug-drug similarity algorithm revealed that azepano-triterpenoids have a rifampicin-like antitubercular activity, with compound 7 scoring the highest as a potential M. tuberculosis RNAP potential inhibitor. FIC testing demonstrated an additive effect of compound 7 when combined with rifampin, isoniazid and ethambutol. Most compounds were highly active against M. avium with compound 14 recording the same MIC value as the control rifampicin (0.0625 µM). The antitubercular ex vivo effectiveness of the tested compounds on THP-1 infected macrophages is correlated with their increased cell permeability. The tested triterpenoids also exhibit low cytotoxicity and do not induce antibacterial resistance in MTB strains.     

桦木醇吡啶盐衍生物的合成及其生理活性研究

以桦木醇为原料合成了4种桦木醇吡啶盐,运用¹H-NMR和IR确认了化合物的结构.用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法对这4种化合物对肝星状细胞、人肺癌细胞和人肝癌细胞的抑制作用进行了活性分析,结果表明,化合物3、4a和4c对上述3种癌细胞有明显的抑制作用,并且对肝星状细胞的IC₅₀值均明显低于桦木醇.     

桦木醇胺衍生物的合成

为了进一步开发和利用桦木醇衍生物,以桦木醇为起始物,在其C - 3、C - 28和C - 30上进行修饰,得到了28- O- [2-(吡咯烷- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(2a)、 28- O- [2-(哌啶- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(2b)、 28- O- [2-(吗啉-4- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(2c)、 28- O- [2-(哌嗪- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(2d)、 28- O-(二甲氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(2e)、 28- O-(二乙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(2f)、 28- O-(二丙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(2g)、 28- O-(二丁氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(2h)、 28- O-(二戊氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(2i)、 3,28- 二 - O- [2-(吡咯烷- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(4a)、 3,28- 二 - O- [2-(哌啶- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(4b)、 3,28- 二 - O- [2-(吗啉-4- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(4c)、 3,28- 二 - O- [2-(哌嗪- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(4d)、 3,28- 二 - O-(二甲氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(4e)、 3,28- 二 - O-(二乙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(4f)、 3,28- 二 - O-(二丙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(4g)、 3,28- 二 - O-(二丁氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(4h)、 3,28- 二 - O-(二戊氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(4i)、 3- O- [2-(吡咯烷- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(6a)、 3- O- [2-(哌啶- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(6b)、 3- O- [2-(吗啉-4- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(6c)、 3- O- [2-(哌嗪- 1- 基)乙酰基]-桦木醇(6d)、 3- O-(二甲氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(6e)、 3- O-(二乙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(6f)、 3- O-(二丙氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(6g)、 3- O-(二丁氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(6h)、 3- O-(二戊氨基乙酰基)-桦木醇(6i)、 30-(1-吡咯烷基)桦木醇(9a)、 30-(1-哌啶基)桦木醇(9b)、 30-(4-吗啉基)桦木醇(9c)、 N,N' - 二 -(30-桦木醇基)哌嗪(9d)共31种桦木醇胺衍生物,并通过核磁共振氢谱(¹H - NMR)、核磁共振碳谱(¹³C - NMR)、红外光谱(FT - IR)和基质辅助飞行时间质谱(MALDI - TOF - MS)对其结构进行了确认.     

Betulin Acid Ester Derivatives Inhibit Cancer Cell Growth by Inducing Apoptosis through Caspase Cascade Activation: A Comprehensive In Vitro and In Silico Study

Betulin, or naturally occurring triterpene, possesses promising antiproliferative activity. To further explore this potential, thirty-eight betulin acid ester derivatives modified at the C-28 position were tested for antitumor activities. Four human cancer cell lines, MV4-11 (leukemia), A549 (lung), PC-3 (prostate), MCF-7 (breast) as well as the normal BALB/3T3 (mouse fibroblasts) cell line were examined using MTT and SRB assays. A few derivatives exhibited strong antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ values between 2 and 5 µM. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that some derivatives induced apoptosis by inducing caspase-3/7 activity. A strong structure–activity correlation of tested compounds has been proposed along with experimental and in silico pharmacokinetic properties.