Synthesis, X-ray studies and antiproliferative activity of novel lasalocid amides

Seeking new drug candidates among compounds of natural origin is an effective and widely used method of fighting various diseases, especially cancer. Lasalocid acid is one of the naturally occurring polyether ionophore antibiotics, which also exhibits interesting anticancer activity. Therefore, to expand the knowledge about the anticancer properties of lasalocid derivatives, a series of its new amides were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines was studied. Amides 7-9 with an aromatic substituent, displayed potent antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀: 0.84-5.18 μM) and demonstrated a good selectivity index (SI: 1.4-15.3). Furthermore, almost all of lasalocid amides overcame the drug resistance of the doxorubicin-resistant cancer cell line (LoVo/DX). Because the biological activity of ionophores is strictly connected with their ability to transport the Na⁺ cation through lipid bilayers, the crystal structure of the complex of compound 8 with the Na⁺ cation was resolved. Lasalocid amides exhibit a pseudocyclic structure and are able to coordinate the Na⁺ cation.