Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Phenanthridines”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Metabolism of cytostatically active 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines by human and porcine hepatic microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes.

A new and convenient two-step synthesis of 11-substituted 6-amino-11,12-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines and 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines (BPs and BP-Ds) was developed recently in the authors' laboratory. These compounds revealed a high antitumoral activity in in vitro and in vivo test systems. In particular, 11-phenyl-substituted derivatives with two or three methoxy groups showed good activity. It was not clear if the dihydro-derivatives (BPs) were transformed enzymatically into the phenanthridines (BP-Ds), thus acting as prodrugs. The in vitro metabolism of several of these cytostatically active 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines was investigated using human and porcine liver microsomes and a range of expressed human cytochrome P450 enzymes. High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis were used for the quantification and structural identification of the observed metabolites. Aromatic hydroxylation was observed to be the major metabolic pathway in addition to a number of other metabolites. The formation of N-hydroxy- and 6-oxo-derivatives was detected only in very small amounts. BP derivatives are not prodrugs of BP-Ds and no significant differences between human and porcine microsomes were observed, confirming the pig as a good model for metabolism studies of these compounds.

Aminobenzoates↗

Inhibitory effects of cytostatically active 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines on cytochrome P450 enzymes in human hepatic microsomes.

Besides assays for the evaluation of efficacy new drug candidates have to undergo extensive testings for enhancement of pharmaceutical drug safety and optimization of application. The objective of the present work was to investigate the pharmacokinetic drug drug interaction potential for the cytostatically active 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines BP-11 (6-amino-11,12-dihydro-11-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)benzo[c]phenanthridine) and BP-D7 (6-amino-11-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)benzo[c]phenanthridine) in vitro through incubation with human hepatic microsomes and marker substrates. For these studies the cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes and corresponding marker substrates recommended by the EMEA (The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products) were chosen. In detail these selective substrates were caffeine (CYP1A2), coumarin (CYP2A6), tolbutamide (CYP2C9), S-(+)-mephenytoin (CYP2C19), dextromethorphane (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1) and testosterone (CYP3A4). Incubations with each substrate were carried out without a possible inhibitor and in the presence of a benzo[c]phenanthridine or a selective inhibitor at varying concentrations. Marker activities were determined by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). For the isoenzymes showing more than 50% inhibition by the addition of 20 microM BP-11 or BP-D7 additional concentrations of substrate and inhibitor were tested for a characterization of the inhibition. The studies showed a moderate risk for BP-11 for interactions with the cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. BP-D7, the compound with the highest cytotstatic efficacy, showed only a moderate risk for interactions with drugs, also metabolized by CYP3A4.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Targeting radiosensitizers to DNA by attachment of an intercalating group: nitroimidazole-linked phenanthridines.

The nitroimidazole-linked phenanthridine series of compounds (NLP-1, 2, and 3) were synthesized under the assumption that it should be possible to enhance the molar efficiency of 2-nitroimidazoles as hypoxic cell radiosensitizers and cytotoxins by targeting them to their likely site of action, DNA. The targeting group chosen was the phenanthridine moiety, the major component of the classical DNA intercalating compound, ethidium bromide. The sole difference between the compounds is the length of the hydrocarbon chain linking the nitroimidazole to the phenanthridine. The phenanthridine group with a three-carbon side chain, P-1, was also synthesized to allow studies on the effect of the targeting group by itself. The ability of the compounds to bind to DNA is inversely proportional to their linker chain length with binding constant values ranging from approximately 1 x 10(5) mol-1 for NLP-2 to 6 x 10(5) mol-1 for NLP-3. The NLP compounds show selective toxicity to hypoxic cells at 37 degrees C at external drug concentrations 10-40 times lower than would be required for untargeted 2-nitroimidazoles such as misonidazole in vitro. Toxicity to both hypoxic and aerobic cells is dependent on the linker chain: the shorter the chain, the greater the toxicity. In addition, the NLP compounds radiosensitize hypoxic cells at external drug concentrations as low as 0.05 mM with almost the full oxygen effect being observed at a concentration of 0.5 mM. These concentrations are 10-100 times lower than would be required for similar radiosensitization using misonidazole. Radiosensitizing ability is independent of linker chain length. The present compounds represent prototypes for further studies of the efficacy and mechanism of action of 2-nitroimidazoles targeted to DNA by linkage to an intercalating group.

Animals↗

In vitro metabolic N- and C-oxidation of phenanthridine.

The in vitro microsomal metabolism of phenanthridine has been studied to establish as to whether phenanthridine produces the corresponding N-oxide and lactam as metabolites and the mechanism involved. We now report our preliminary findings using rat hepatic microsomal preparations (control and induced with phenobarbitone) fortified with NADPH. The potential metabolite, phenanthridine-N-oxide, was prepared by m-CPBA oxidation of substrate; the lactam was commercially available. The substrate and metabolites were extracted and analysed by HPLC and TLC. Five metabolites, i.e. the corresponding N-oxide, lactam and three other products, were detected. Both N-oxide and lactam metabolites showed identical chromatographic behaviour and UV spectrum--using a multi-array UV detector linked to a HPLC system--as the authentic compounds. The uncharacterised metabolites are proposed to be phenolic because of their chromatographic behaviour and response to detection reagents. The amount of N-oxide and lactam formed was significantly increased when phenobarbitone induced rat microsomes were used as enzyme source. The results indicate that these latter metabolites are probably formed by a phenobarbitone inducible CYP450 isozyme. It may be that the lactam was produced via the N-oxide and experiments are under way to investigate the proposed pathway.

Animals↗

NMR determination of the hetero-association of phenanthridines with daunomycin and their competitive binding to a DNA oligomer.

500 MHz (1)H NMR spectroscopy has been used to determine thermodynamic and structural information on the hetero-association of daunomycin (DAU) with the phenanthridine mutagenic dyes ethidium bromide (EB) and propidium iodide (PI). The NMR complexation data have been analysed by a statistical-thermodynamic model which takes into account indefinite association for both the self-association of the drugs and their hetero-association. The results have been used to estimate the effect of the side chains of the phenanthridines on the competitive binding between DAU and the mutagens with DNA. Knowledge of the equilibrium constants for self-association of the phenanthridines and DAU, their hetero-association and their complexation with a DNA fragment, the deoxytetranucleotide 5'-d(TpGpCpA), enabled the relative content of each of the EB-DAU, PI-DAU, EB-DAU-d(TGCA) and PI-DAU-d(TGCA) complexes to be calculated as a function of drug concentration in mixed solutions. The results provide some insight into the molecular basis of the action of combinations of biologically-active molecules. When intercalating drugs are used in combination, it is found that the decrease in binding of drug or mutagen with DNA is due both to formation of drug-mutagen hetero-association complexes in the mixed solution and to competition for the binding sites by the aromatic molecules; the relative importance of each process depends on the molecular properties of the drug or mutagen molecules being considered. Thus, the longer branched side chain of PI and the electrostatic contribution of the extra positive charge of the molecule compared with the ethyl group of EB results in lower affinity for self-association of PI molecules and their hetero-association with DAU, but increases the degree of binding of PI with DNA.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Absence of mutagenicity of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster: comparison with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene.

The wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the mutagenic potential of three benzo[c]phenanthridines with antileukemic properties, fagaronine, nitidine and O-methylfagaronine, as compared with that of two structurally related aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons: 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene. Although toxic to larvae, the benzo[c]phenanthridines and chrysene gave negative or inconclusive results while 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was found to be highly mutagenic and recombinogenic as previously reported. These results suggest that the alkoxy groups and the quaternary nitrogen of the benzo[c]-phenanthridines may reduce or eliminate their mutagenicity in spite of their similarity to methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Evaluation of cis- and trans-9- and 11-hydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8,12b-hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridines as structurally rigid, selective D1 dopamine receptor ligands.

The present study reports the investigation of the D1 structure-relationships of certain cis- or trans-9- or 11-monohydroxy analogues of (+/-)-trans-10,11-dihydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8,12b-hexahydrobenzo[a] phenanthridine (8a, dihydrexidine), previously identified as the first full efficacy D1 dopamine receptor agonist. The monohydroxybenzo[a]phenanthridines were prepared from the appropriately substituted beta-tetralones using the methods described earlier for the synthesis of their catechol analogues. The 10-bromo 11-hydroxy derivative 9e was prepared by treatment of precursor 9c with bromine in chloroform. The affinities of these compounds for the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor classes and for their effects on adenylate cyclase activity were assessed in rat striatal membranes. In addition to producing only minimal increases in adenylate cyclase activity (< or = 15%), these phenolic derivatives generally had significantly lower affinities for D1 and D2 receptors (D1 IC50 > or = 102 nM, D2 IC50 > or = 210 nM) than did their catechol analogues. Further, compounds bearing a cis B/C-ring fusion displayed lower affinities than those bearing a trans configuration, paralleling the activity differences between the catechol analogues. The data for these rigid dopamine receptor ligands from the benzo[a]phenanthridine class lend additional support for the hypothesis that D1 agonist activity is optimized by a trans ring configuration that maintains the beta-phenyldopamine substructure in the "trans-beta-rotamer."

Animals↗

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of substituted benzo[a]phenanthridines as agonists at D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.

Dihydrexidine [4;(+/-)-trans-10,11-dihydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8, 12b-hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine (DHX)], the first high-affinity full D1 agonist, also is known to have significant D2 activity. The present work reports the synthesis and pharmacological activity of a series of analogs substituted in the pendent phenyl ring (i.e., 2-, 3-, or 4-position). (+/-)-trans-2-Methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8, 12b-hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine (5) was a high-affinity D1 agonist, having approximately 4-fold greater D1 vs D2 selectivity than DHX itself. All of the analogs containing a methyl or ethyl (but not a phenyl) substituent at the 2-, 3-, or 4-position had a pharmacological profile similar to that of the lead compound DHX (4). Each analog was found to be a high-affinity full agonist with moderate selectivity for the D1 receptor. It is apparent from these results that the D1 receptor can tolerate small substituents at the 2-, 3-, and 4-positions of the pendent phenyl ring. On the basis of earlier studies showing that N-alkylation increases D2 selectivity, the 3-methyl N-n-propyl and 4-methyl N-n-propyl compounds 11 and 13 were synthesized. While these analogs exhibited much higher affinity for the D2 receptor, surprisingly 4-methyl-N-propyl-DHX (13) exhibited high affinity for both the D1 and D2 receptors. It was subsequently established that this compound is a selective D3 ligand (110-fold selectivity for the D3 over D2 receptor). The results from these studies demonstrate that several of the hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine derivatives are agonists with high intrinsic activity that may serve as powerful tools to explore the structural features that determine affinity and selectivity (relative to the D2 receptor) of drugs for D1 receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 11-substituted 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridine derivatives, a new class of antitumor agents.

The synthesis of 11-substituted 6-amino-11,12-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines and 11-substituted 6-aminobenzo[c]phenanthridines through an efficient method is described. The antiproliferative activity of selected compounds against a wide panel of tumor cell lines was tested in the in vitro anticancer screening and the in vivo hollow fiber assay of the National Cancer Institute. Several compounds turned out to exhibit considerable cytotoxicity for tumor cells. For the study of structure-activity relationships different substituents were introduced in the 11-position. Compounds with methoxyphenyl substituents tended to show the highest potency. Several compounds exhibited noteworthy antitumor activity with GI(50) values across all cell lines <1 microM. 6-Amino-11-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)benzo[c]phenanthridine perchlorate was the most potent agent in the NCI's in vivo hollow fiber assay. Most of the tested compounds showed a remarkable selectivity for leukemia, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A versatile total synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine and protoberberine alkaloids using lithiated toluamide-benzonitrile cycloaddition.

A new versatile synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine and protoberberine alkaloids using lithiated toluamide-benzonitrile cycloaddition was carried out. The coupling reaction between benzonitrile 6 with o-toluamides (8a-c) afforded 3-arylisoquinolines (9a-c) that were transformed to the protoberberines (11a-c) or benzo[c]phenanthridines (14a-c). These compounds were synthesized by ring closure of the two-carbon chain on either position 2 or 4 of the 3-arylisoquinolinone (9a-c). Several kinds of substituted benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids such as oxysanguinarine, oxyavicine, and oxynitidine as well as protoberberines such as 8-oxocoptisine, 8-oxopseudoberberine, and 8-oxopseudocoptisine were synthesized.

Alkaloids↗

New hydroxylated benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids from Eschscholtzia californica cell suspension cultures.

From cell cultures of Eschscholtzia californica and their spent medium, three new benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids--namely 10-hydroxysanguinarine [2a], 12-hydroxychelirubine [4a], and 10-hydroxychelerythrine [7a]--and two new dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids--10-hydroxydihydrosanguinarine [2b] and 12-hydroxydihydrochelirubine [4b]--together with the known constituents sanguinarine [1a], chelirubine [3a], macarpine [5a], dihydrosanguinarine [1b], dihydrochelirubine [3b], and dihydromacarpine [5b], were isolated and characterized. Structure elucidations were done by 1H nmr, decoupling experiments, and NOESY spectra. Isolated microsomes from E. californica, the site of hydroxylation activity within the cells, contained the whole set 1b to 8b of 5,6-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthridines. A scheme for the biosynthesis of macarpine [5a] from protopine [9] via dihydrosanguinarine [1b] is presented.

Alkaloids↗

Total synthesis of 12-methoxydihydrochelerythrine and anti-tumour activity of its quaternary base: toward an efficient synthetic route for 12-alkoxybenzo[c]phenanthridine bases via naphthoquinone monooxime from 2-benzofuranyl-1-tetralone derivative.

A concise total synthesis of 12-methoxydihydrochelerythrine (6), isolated from Bocconia integrifolia, is described. The synthesis features an efficient route to a 12-alkoxybenzo[c]phenanthridine skeleton via naphthoquinone monooxime 11 as a key compound. Starting from 7-methoxy-2-methylbenzo[b]furan (9), 3-aryl-1-tetralone 10 was synthesised, followed by aromatisation to 3-aryl-1-naphthol 17. After oxidative cleavage of the furan ring, basic nitrosation of naphthol 22 gave the naphthoquinone 11. The benzo[c]phenanthridine skeleton was formed by reductive cyclisation of 11. Deoxygenation of the lactam moiety in 23 afforded nor-base 32 and methylation of 32 under reductive conditions gave the target dihydro base 6 (23 steps from benzofuran 9 in 10% overall yield). The corresponding quaternary base 7 showed moderate anti-tumour activity against cancer cell lines; on NCI-H460: IC50 4.5 microM and on MDA-MB-231: IC50 1.2 microM. Introduction of a methoxy group into the 12-position of the benzo[c]phenanthridine skeleton could cause enhanced activity against MDA-MB-231 by comparison of 7 with chelerythrine (35) (IC50 5.3 microM).

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Esters and amides of 2,3-dimethoxy-8,9-methylenedioxy-benzo[i]phenanthridine-12-carboxylic acid: potent cytotoxic and topoisomerase I-targeting agents.

The exceptional topoisomerase I-targeting activity and antitumor activity of 5-(2-N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl-8,9-dimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxy-5H-dibenzo[c,h][1,6]naphthyridin-6-one (ARC-111, topovale) prompted studies on similarly substituted benzo[i]phenanthridine-12-carboxylic ester and amide derivatives. Among the benzo[i]phenanthridine-12-carboxylic esters evaluated, the 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl, 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1-methylethyl, and 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1,1-dimethylethyl esters possessed similar cytotoxicity, ranging from 30 to 55 nM in RPMI8402 and KB3-1 cells. Several of the carboxamide derivatives possess potent topoisomerase I-targeting activity and cytotoxicity. The 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl, and 2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl amides were among the more cytotoxic benzo[i]phenanthridine-12-carboxylic derivatives, with IC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 5.0 nM in RPMI8402 and KB3-1 cells.

Amides↗

Photochemical and photobiological studies with acridine and phenanthridine hydroperoxides in cell-free DNA.

The acridine and phenanthridine hydroperoxides 3 and 7 were synthesized as photochemical hydroxyl radical sources for oxidative DNA damage studies. The generation of hydroxyl radicals upon UVA irradiation (lambda = 350 nm) was verified by trapping experiments with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide and benzene. The enzymatic assays of the damage in cell-free DNA from bacteriophage PM2 caused by the acridine and phenanthridine hydroperoxides 3 and 7 under near-UVA irradiation revealed a wide range of DNA modifications. Particularly, extensive single-strand break formation and DNA base modifications sensitive to formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg protein) were observed. In the photooxidation of calf thymus DNA, up to 0.69 +/- 0.03% 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine was formed by the hydroperoxides 3 and 7 on irradiation, whose yield was reduced up to 40% in the presence of the hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol and tert-butanol. The acridine and phenanthridine hydroperoxides 3 and 7 also induce DNA damage through the type I photooxidation process, for which photoinduced electron transfer from 2'-deoxyguanosine to the singlet states of 3 and 7 was estimated by the Rehm-Weller equation to possess a negative Gibb's free energy of ca -5 kcal/ mol. Control experiments with the sensitizers acridine 1 and the acridine alcohol 4 in calf thymus and PM2 DNA confirmed the photosensitizing propensity of the UVA-absorbing chromophores. The present study emphasizes that for the development of selective and efficient photochemical hydroxyl radical sources, chromophores with low photosensitizing ability must be chosen to avoid type I and type II photooxidation processes.

Cell-Free System↗

A comparison of the base-pair specificities of three phenanthridine drugs using solution spectroscopy.

1. The absorption spectrum of three phenanthridine drugs (ethidium, dimidium and prothidium bromide) bound to natural DNAs of differing G-C content were obtained using a novel mixing scheme and analysed according to the excluded site binding model. 2. Ethidium bromide shows a strong G-C specificity at low binding ratios. especially at low ionic concentration. 3. Dimidium bromide shows a less strong G-C specificity. 4. For both drugs, the binding site size reflects a situation close to nearest-neighbour exclusion. 5. Prothidium shows no specificity in its binding. The binding modes are different than for the other two phenanthridines, and it is suggested that the primary mode is "sideways" intercalation.

Animals↗

Solvatochromic, spectroscopic and DFT studies of a novel synthesized dye: l-(4-Dimethylaminophenyl)-2-(5H-phenanthridine-6-ylidene)-ethanone (6-KMPT).

A novel solvatochromic l-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-(5H-phenanthridine-6-ylidene)-ethanone (6-KMPT) dye was synthesized and characterized by means of NMR, IR, mass spectroscopies. Also, it was studied using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic methods in a broad range of solvents. UV-vis results showed that increasing 6-KMPT concentration dose not cause molecular aggregation in chloroform. Varying the temperature in the range from 25 to 55 degrees C dose not have a significant effect on the characteristics bands of the molecule. However, in the presence of surfactant SDS the UV-vis spectrum undergoes drastic alteration. This phenomenon is related to the removal of hydrogen atom from nitrogen atom of phenanthridine moiety. Fluorescence spectroscopic results showed that 6-KMPT has an appreciable fluorescence quantum yield. The effect of excitation wavelength, concentration of 6-KMPT, concentration of oxygen and surfactants (SDS, C(16)TAB, CPC, Brij-35) were studied. Further results showed that the fluorescent behavior of 6-KMPT can be attributed to planarity induced by intramolecular hydrogen bonding which can in turn be destroyed by anionic surfactant SDS. Results showed that oxygen and SDS can be operate as fluorescence quencher compounds for 6-KMPT and Stern-Volmer plot showed a straight line. Fluorescence polarization and anisotropy of 6-KMPT in chloroform strongly depend on concentration. The 6-KMPT exhibits solvent-induced spectral band shifts. By using Lippert equation, the change of dipole moment of 6-KMPT molecule upon excitation was estimated as 6.39 D. Furthermore, absorption, fluorescence emission, Stokes shift values and fluorescence quantum yield (Phi(F)) of 6-KMPT in different solvents of polarity were determined. Maximum Phi(F) value of 0.372 for 6-KMPT molecule was found in ethanol solvent with a Stokes shift of 2446.8 cm(-1). The results of DFT calculations showed that tautomer 2c (enol) energetically is more stable than tautomer 2b (keto) in gas phase whereas it was vice versa in CHCl(3).

Chloroform↗

Pyrrolo[1,2-f]phenanthridines and related non-rigid analogues as antiviral agents.

The pyrrolo[1,2-f]phenanthridines 8-22 and the corresponding non-rigid analogues 23-41 were synthesised and their ability to inhibit the replication of HIV-1 was tested. Only the polycyclic derivatives 10, 11, and 13 showed a weak anti-HIV activity, whereas several pyrrolo-phenanthridines (8, 10, 16-18) were found to stimulate the multiplication of MT-4 cells at low concentrations. Derivative 10 demonstrated to possess the unique property of stimulating the multiplication of lymphocytes joined to HIV inhibition.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Synthesis of substituted 5[H]phenanthridin-6-ones as potent poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP1) inhibitors.

1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 8-, or 10-Substituted 5(H)phenanthridin-6-ones were synthesized and found to be potent PARP1 inhibitors. Among the 28 compounds prepared, some showed not only low IC(50) values (compound 1b, 10 nM) but also desirable water solubility characteristics. These properties, which are superior to the common PARP1 inhibitors such as benzamides and isoquinolin-1-ones, are essential for potential therapeutic usage. The variety of compounds allows SAR analysis of favored substituents and substituted positions on 5(H)phenanthridin-6-one ring.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗