title: Selective cytotoxicity of pancratistatin-related natural Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: evaluation of the activity of two new compounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancratistatin (PST), a compound extracted from an Amaryllidaceae (AMD) family plant, has been shown to specifically induce apoptosis in cancer cells with no/minimal toxic effect on normal cells. A systematic synthetic approach has indicated that the minimum cytotoxic pharmacophore comprises the trans-fused b/c-ring system containing the 2, 3, 4-triol unit in the C-ring. To further explore the structure-activity relationship of this group of compounds we have investigated the anti-cancer efficacy and specificity of two PST-related natural compounds, AMD4 and AMD5. Both of these compounds lack the polyhydroxylated lycorane element of PST instead having a methoxy-substituted crinane skeleton.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate that AMD5 has efficacy and selectivity similar to PST, albeit at a 10-fold increased concentration. Interestingly AMD4 lacks apoptotic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the phenanthridone skeleton in natural Amaryllidaceae alkaloids may be a significant common element for selectivity against cancer cells; furthermore, the configuration of the methoxy-side groups is responsible for higher binding affinity to the target protein/s thus making for a more efficient anti-cancer agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharda
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jerald
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Siyaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey