New antimalarial and cytotoxic 4-nerolidylcatechol derivatives

4-Nerolidylcatechol (1) was isolated from cultivated Pothomorphe peltata root on a multigram scale using straight-forward solvent extraction-column chromatography. New semi-synthetic derivatives of 1 were prepared and tested in vitro against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain. Mono-O-methyl, mono-O-benzyl, O,O-dibenzyl and O,O-dibenzoyl derivatives 2–8 exhibited IC50 in the 0.67–22.52 μM range. Mono-O-methyl ethers 6 and 7 inhibited the in vitro growth of human tumor cell lines HCT-8 (colon carcinoma), SF-295 (central nervous system), LH-60 (human myeloblastic leukemia) and MDA/MB-435 (melanoma). In general, derivatives 2–8 are more stable to light, air and pH at ambient temperatures than their labile, natural precursor 1. These derivatives provide leads for the development of a novel class of antimalarial drugs with enhanced chemical and pharmacological properties.

Graphical abstractStable derivatives 2–8 (prepared from labile isolated 1) and catechol (9) inhibit human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and 6, 7 and 9 inhibit human tumor cells in vitro.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide