Compound 1 is a curcumin di-O-2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionate that shows significant in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity against MDA-MB-231 cells with eight to ten-fold higher potency than curcumin. Here, we modified the α-position (C-4 position) of the central 1,3-diketone moiety of 1 with polar or nonpolar functional groups to afford a series of 4,4-disubstituted curcuminoid 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionate derivatives and evaluated their anticancer activities. A clear structure–activity relationship of compound 1 derivatives focusing on the functional groups at the C-4 position was established based on their anti-proliferative effects against the MDA-MB-231 and HCT-116 cell lines. Compounds 2–6 are 4,4-dimethylated, 4,4-diethylated, 4,4-dibenzylated, 4,4-dipropargylated and 4,4-diallylated compound 1, respectively. Compounds 2m–6m, the ester hydrolysis products of compounds 2–6, respectively, were synthesized and assessed for anticancer activity. Among all compound 1 derivatives, compound 2 emerged as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for colon cancer due to the promising in vivo anti-proliferative activities of 2 (IC50 = 3.10 ± 0.29 μM) and its ester hydrolysis product 2m (IC50 = 2.17 ± 0.16 μM) against HCT-116. The preliminary pharmacokinetic evaluation of 2 implied that 2 and 2m are main contributors to the in vivo efficacy. Compound 2 was further evaluated in an animal study using HCT-116 colon tumor xenograft bearing nude mice. The results revealed a dose-dependent efficacy that led to tumor volume reductions of 27%, 45%, and 60% at 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg doses, respectively. The established structure–activity relationship and pharmacokinetic outcomes of 2 is the guidance for future development of 4,4-disubstituted curcuminoid 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)- propionate derivatives as anticancer drug candidates.
化合物1是一种姜黄双-O-2,2-双(羟甲基)丙酸酯,对MDA-MB-231细胞显示出显著的体外和体内抑制活性,比姜黄的效力高出八到十倍。在这里,我们通过在1的中心1,3-二酮基团的α-位置(C-4位置)上修饰极性或非极性功能团,制备了一系列4,4-二取代姜黄素2,2-双(羟甲基)丙酸酯衍生物,并评估了它们的抗癌活性。基于它们对MDA-MB-231和HCT-116细胞系的抗增殖效应,建立了化合物1衍生物的结构-活性关系,重点关注C-4位置的功能团。化合物2-6分别是4,4-二甲基化、4,4-二乙基化、4,4-二苄基化、4,4-二丙炔基化和4,4-二烯丙基化的化合物1。化合物2m-6m分别是化合物2-6的酯水解产物,已合成并评估了它们的抗癌活性。在所有化合物1衍生物中,化合物2因其对HCT-116的有希望的体内抗增殖活性(IC50 = 3.10 ± 0.29 μM)以及其酯水解产物2m(IC50 = 2.17 ± 0.16 μM)而被确定为结肠癌的潜在化疗药物。化合物2的初步药代动力学评估表明,2和2m是体内疗效的主要贡献者。化合物2在使用HCT-116结肠肿瘤裸鼠移植模型进行的动物研究中进一步评估。结果显示,分别在50、100和150 mg/kg剂量下,导致肿瘤体积减少27%、45%和60%的剂量依赖性疗效。2的建立的结构-活性关系和药代动力学结果是未来开发4,4-二取代姜黄素2,2-双(羟甲基)丙酸酯衍生物作为抗癌药物候选药物的指导。