Synthesis and antitumor activity of lapathoside D and its analogs

Phenylpropanoid sucrose esters are important class of plant-derived natural products and have greater potential to be leads for new drugs because of their structural diversity and broad-array of pharmacological and biological activities. Regio- and chemo-selective acylation of 2,1′:4,6-O-di-isopropylidene sucrose 4 with cinnamoyl chloride 5 and p-acetoxycinnamoyl chloride 6 afforded mono-, di-, tri- and tetra- variant PSEs in moderate yields. The first total synthesis of di-substituted PSE, lapathoside D 1′ has been achieved successfully in short and simple synthetic steps from sucrose 3 as an inexpensive starting material. Lapathoside D 1 and a set of selected synthesized PSEs were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cervical epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines. Most of the compounds exhibited significant antitumor activity with their IC50 values ranging from 0.05 to 7.63 μM. The primary screening results indicated that PSEs might be valuable source for new potent anticancer drug candidates.

Graphical abstractA series of phenylpropanoid sucrose esters, lapathoside D and its analogs were successfully synthesized in short and simple synthetic route from sucrose and evaluated for their antitumor activity against human cervical epithelioid carcinoma cells. The preliminary results indicated that PSEs might be valuable source for new potent anticancer drug candidates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► First total syntheses of Lapathoside D along with 17 unnatural PSEs. ► Significant antitumor activity with their IC50 values ranging from 0.05 to 7.63 μM. ► Di-O-isopropylidene and acetyl groups contribute significantly to cytotoxic activity. ► PSEs are potential source for new potent anticancer drug candidates.