Assessment of microtubule depolymerization property of flavonoids isolated from Tanacetum gracile in breast cancer cells by biochemical and molecular docking approach.

The chemical investigation of the bioactive nonpolar fractions of Tanacetum gracile afforded two flavonoid analogues namely, 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (1) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (2) which were identical to the previously reported artemetin and chrysosplenetin respectively. The structure of the compounds was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and they showed significant cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and T47D). Mechanism based study showed that the compounds modulated microtubule depolymerization by activating mitotic spindle checkpoint.

A new cytotoxic quinolone alkaloid and a pentacyclic steroidal glycoside from the stem bark of Crataeva nurvala: study of anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing property.

Chemical investigation of stem bark of Crataeva nurvala afforded 5,7-dimethoxy-3-phenyl-1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-quinolone and a steroidal glycoside with unprecedented pentacyclic ring system named crataemine (1a) and crataenoside (2) respectively. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. A series of compounds with modification at position 1 of 1a (1a-1c) were prepared.

Two new amides with cytotoxic activity from the fruits of Piper longum.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the fruits of Piper longum afforded two new minor amides, piperlongimin A (2) [2E-N-isobutyl-hexadecenamide] and piperlongimin B (4) [2E-octadecenoylpiperidine] together with five known compounds with moderate cytotoxic activity. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences. All these compounds inhibited cell proliferation of human leukemia, HL-60 cell lines, and displayed major apoptosis-inducing effects.