Syntheses of prodelphinidin B3 and C2, and their antitumor activities through cell cycle arrest and caspase-3 activation

Total synthesis of prodelphinidin B3 and C2 have been accomplished. The key step is Lewis acid-mediated equimolar condensations between a catechin and/or gallocatechin nucleophile and a gallocatechin electrophile. The antitumor effects of synthetic prodelphidin B3 and C2 against PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines have been investigated. Both compounds showed significant antitumor effects. Their activity was almost the same as that of EGCG, a known antitumor agent.