Apoptotic activity of substituted 3-O-acetyl-betulinic acid benzylamides

Abstract

Acetylated betulinic acid (BA) was converted into mono-substituted benzylamides 2–14. Screening in SRB assays showed them as cytotoxic for a variety of different human tumor cell lines. While parent BA was not cytotoxic within the limits of the assay (cut-off 30 ​μM), the target amides were cytotoxic. Their bioactivity as well as their tumor cell/non-tumor cell selectivity depended on the substitution pattern of the aromatic ring. The most active compound 9 (holding an ortho methoxy substituent) acted mainly by apoptosis.

Keywords

• Betulinic acid
• Benzylamides
• Cytotoxicity
• SRB assay