title: Synthesis and antitumor activity of 6- and 2-(1-substituted-thio-4-methylpent-3-enyl)-5,8-dimethoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones.
abstract: In an attempt to develop potent and selective antitumor agents, a series of 6- and 2-(1-substituted-thio-4-methylpent-3-enyl)-5,8-dimethoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones were designed and synthesized. The cytotoxicities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro against BEL-7402, HT-29 and SPC-A1 cell lines. The pharmacological results showed that most of the prepared compounds displayed the excellent selective cytotoxicity toward HT-29 cells. From the structure-activity relationships we may conclude that the introduction of a thioether functional group at the 1'-position in the side chain of shikonin is associated with an increase in cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tian-Pei
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yu-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: De-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shao-Shun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004952:Esters; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013440:Sulfides