Synthesis and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) of argentatin B derivatives as growth inhibitors of human cancer cell lines Original Research Article

Synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity, and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) of 14 argentatin B (1) analogs are described. The effect of argentatin B derivatives on the growth of K562 (leukemia), PC-3 (prostate), U251 (CNS), and HCT-15 (colon) human cancer cell lines was determined using the sulforhodamine B test. The most active compound in this series, 2-formyl-(16β,24R)-16,24-epoxy-25-hydroxycycloart-1-en-3-one (12), was about 35–50 times more potent than argentatin B (1). Structures were built using the X-ray crystallography of six derivatives for 3D modeling with Sybyl6.9. CoMFA of Log (1/IC50) in K562 cell line gave q2 = 0.507, r2 = 0.907, and three components. The standard deviation CoMFA contours indicate that increased activity is associated with a bulky group at C-2, a C1–C2 double bond, and low electronic density at C-25. Experimental Log P values for argentatin B and one derivative were 1–2 Log units more hydrophilic than the calculated C Log P values.