Cytotoxic effect of some natural compounds isolated from Lauraceae plants and synthetic derivatives.

Introduction: The antiproliferative effect of eleven neolignans, two lignans and one diterpene isolated from three Lauraceae plants, four benzofurans and two bicyclooctanes synthetic derivatives was evaluated in vitro on a set of five human cancer cells from solid tumors with a high incidence in Colombia.

Objective: To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of twenty compounds on the tumor cell lines HeLa, A-549, Hep-2, PC-3, and MCF-7. MATERIALS AND METHODS.

Antimycobacterial natural products--an opportunity for the Colombian biodiversity.

It is estimated that one-third part of the world population is infected with the tubercle bacillus. While only a small percentage of infected individuals will develop clinical tuberculosis, each year there are approximately eight million new cases and two million deaths. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is thus responsible for more human mortality than any other single microbial species.

One-pot, Pd-catalyzed synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans from o-aminophenols.

An efficient and facile synthesis of trans-dihydrobenzofurans has been accomplished from o-aminophenols and phenylpropenes via a novel (one-pot) diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed oxyarylation reaction. The development and optimization of this method is described.

COX, LOX and platelet aggregation inhibitory properties of Lauraceae neolignans.

The anti-inflammatory potential of 26 neolignans (14 of the bicyclooctane-type and 12 of the benzofuran-type), isolated from three Lauraceae species (Pleurothyrium cinereum, Ocotea macrophylla and Nectandra amazonum), was evaluated in vitro through inhibition of COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX and agonist-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets. Benzofuran neolignans were found to be selective COX-2 inhibitors, whereas bicyclooctane neolignans inhibit selectively the PAF-action as well as COX-1 and 5-LOX. The neolignan 9-nor-7,8-dehydro-isolicarin B 15 and cinerin C 7 were found to be the most potent COX-2 inhibitor and PAF-antagonist, respectively.

Macrophyllin-type bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignans from the leaves of Pleurothyrium cinereum.

Four new macrophyllin-type bicyclo[3.2.1]octanoid neolignans, (7S,8R,3'S,5'R)-Delta(8')-5,5',3'-trimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy-2',3',4',5'-tetrahydro-2',4'-dioxo-7.