title: Stereochemistry-dependent cytotoxicity of some artemisinin derivatives.
abstract: We determined the cytotoxicity of some artemisinin derivatives against EN2 tumor cells using the MTT assay. Artemisinin (1) was clearly more cytotoxic than deoxyartemisinin (2), which lacks the endoperoxide bridge. Ether-linked dimers of dihydroartemisinin with defined stereochemistry were found to differ in the extent of cytotoxic effect on EN2 cells. The nonsymmetrical dimer (3) was more cytotoxic than the symmetrical dimer (4). The nonsymmetrical dimer of dihydrodeoxyartemisinin (5) lacking the endoperoxide bridges was also effective in the MTT assay, although less cytotoxic than 3 and 4. Similarly, the symmetrical dimer (6) was less effective than 5. Epoxides of artemisitene also showed that stereochemistry was an important factor for cytotoxicity. The results suggested that the endoperoxide bridge was not crucial for cytotoxicity to the tumor cells, but contributed to the cytotoxic effect apparently exerted by the ether linkage of the dimers. Flow cytometry data indicated that the dimers 3 and 4 caused an accumulation of the cells in the G1-phase of the cell cycle. In contrast, artemisinin (1) caused a slight increase of S-phase cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen Institute for Drug Studies, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barentsen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Woerdenbag
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Uden
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pras
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: el-Feraly
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Galal
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Wikström
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D037621:Artemisinins; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C031327:artemisinin; C022616:thiazolyl blue