Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of natural alpha-bisabolol beta-D-fucopyranoside and analogues

Phytochemistry. 2009 Jan;70(2):228-36. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.11.013. Epub 2009 Jan 10.

Abstract

alpha-Bisabolol beta-d-fucopyranoside, a cytotoxic naturally occurring compound, was efficiently synthesized along with five other alpha-bisabolol glycosides (beta-d-glucoside, beta-d-galactoside, alpha-d-mannoside, beta-d-xyloside and alpha-l-rhamnoside). Glycosidation of alpha-bisabolol was performed using Schmidt's inverse procedure and provided excellent yields (83-95%). Cytotoxicity was evaluated against a broad panel of cancerous cell lines including human and rat glioma (U-87, U-251 and GL-261) since the anticancer activity of alpha-bisabolol was previously demonstrated against brain tumor cell lines. The addition of a sugar moiety markedly increased alpha-bisabolol cytotoxicity in most cases. Among the synthesized glycosides, alpha-bisabolol alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activity with IC(50) ranging from 40 to 64muM. According to ADME in silico predictions, this glycoside closely respects physicochemical parameters necessary to cross the blood-brain barrier passively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Products / chemical synthesis*
  • Biological Products / chemistry
  • Biological Products / toxicity*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Computer Simulation
  • Fucose / analogs & derivatives
  • Fucose / chemical synthesis*
  • Fucose / chemistry
  • Fucose / toxicity*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Fucose