Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives

In order to find compounds with superior bioactivity and overcoming multidrug resistance, a novel series of 4β-N-substituted podophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as potential antitumor agents. Seven novel podophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized by linking 4β-amino-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin with alcohols through maleic acid and tested against K562 and K562/A02 using MTT assay in vitro.