Eugenol and its synthetic analogues inhibit cell growth of human cancer cells (part I)

Carrasco H.; Espinoza L.; Cardile V.; Gallardo, C; Cardona W.; Lombardo, L; Catalan, K; Cuellar, M; Russo, A

Abstract

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) (1) has been reported to possess antioxidant and anticancer properties. In an attempt to enhance intrinsic activity of this natural compound, some derivatives were synthesized. Eugenol was extracted from cloves oil and further, the eugenol analogues (2-6) were obtained through acetylation and nitration reactions. Eugenol (1) and its analogues (2-6) were examined by in vitro model of cancer using two human cancer cell lines: DU-145 (androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells) and KB (oral squamous carcinoma cells). Cell viability, by tetrazolium salts assay, was measured. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release was also investigated to evaluate the presence of cell toxicity as a result of cell disruption, subsequent to membrane rupture. In the examined cancer cells, all compounds showed cell-growth inhibition activity. The obtained results demonstrate that the compounds 5-allyl-3-nitrobenzene-1,2-diol (3) and 4-allyl-2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl acetate (5) were significantly (p < 0,001) more active than eugenol, with IC 50 values in DU-145 cells of 19.02 × 10-6 and 21.5 × 10-6 mol L-1, respectively, and in KB cells of 18.11 × 10-6 and 21.26 × 10-6 mol L -1, respectively, suggesting that the presence of nitro and hydroxyl groups could be important in the activity of these compounds. In addition, our results seem to indicate that apoptotic cell demise appears to be induced in KB and DU-145 cells. In fact, in our experimental conditions, no statistically significant increase in LDH release was observed in cancer cells treated with eugenol and its analogues. ©2008 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Más información

Título según WOS: Eugenol and its synthetic analogues inhibit cell growth of human cancer cells (part I)
Título según SCOPUS: Eugenol and its synthetic analogues inhibit cell growth of human cancer cells (Part I)
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF THE BRAZILIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Volumen: 19
Número: 3
Editorial: SOC BRASILEIRA QUIMICA
Fecha de publicación: 2008
Página de inicio: 543
Página final: 548
Idioma: English
URL: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-50532008000300024&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en
DOI:

10.1590/S0103-50532008000300024

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS