Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity Evaluation of B-norcholesterol-6- amide Compounds
Yanmin Huang1, Zining Peng1, Chang Liu1
1Guangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, P.R. China.
Background:
The structure modification of steroids is commonly used to change the biological activity of steroids in medicinal chemistry. In recent years, it has been found that some derivatives derived from the structural modification of cholesterol display good inhibitory activity against tumor cell proliferation in vitro.
Methods:
Using cholesterol as the starting material, different types of B-norcholesterol-6-amide derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of 6-carboxyl-B-norcholesterol with different alkyl amines or 6-amino-B-norcholesterol with different acyl chlorides. The inhibitory activity of compounds on the proliferation of tumor cell lines was investigated by the MTT method.
Results:
The results showed that the B-norcholesterol-6-amide compounds displayed distinct cytotoxicity against Sk-Ov-3 cells but caused no obvious damage against HEK-293T cells. Additionally, the steroidal amide derivatives formed from 6-amino-B-norcholesterol showed stronger cytotoxicity than those produced from 6-carboxyl-B-norcholesterol. Specially, compounds with chloroalkyl structure displayed significant inhibitory activity against all tumor cells tested. Among them, compounds 19-21 showed cytotoxicity like 2-methoxyestradiol as a positive control, and the IC50 value of compound 20 on HeLa cells was 3.9 μM.
Conclusion:
After introducing chloroalkyl acyl groups into 6-position of 6-amino-B-norcholesterol, the cytotoxicity of resulting B-norcholesterol-6-amide compounds can be greatly enhanced.
Related Concept Videos
Adrenergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Aromatic ring substitutions: Substituting the aromatic ring with –OH groups at positions 3 and 4 yields catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine), which have a high affinity for adrenoceptors. Hydrogen bonding between –OH groups and receptors enhances adrenergic activity.
Separation of...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Addition–Elimination (SNAr)
The reaction begins with an attack of the nucleophile on the carbon that holds the leaving group. This results in the delocalization of the π electrons over the ring carbons. The resonance interaction between...


