• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 1998

Fourty eight derivatives of 2-(1-oxyalkyl)-1,4-dioxy-9,10-anthraquinone were synthesized, and their antitumor activity was evaluated. On the whole, 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones (DHAQ=1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone) showed stronger cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells than 2-(l-hydroxyalkyl)-1,4-dimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinones(DMAQ =1,4-dimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone), implying that free hydroxy groups at C-1 and C-4 of the anthraquinone structure are necessary for the cytotoxic activity. The bioactivity of 2-(lhydroxyalkyl)-DHAQ derivatives differed according to the size of alkyl group at C-1;while the elongation of alkyl group over 7 carbon atoms failed to enhance the bioactivity, the derivatives possessing alkyl moiety of 1-6 carbon atoms showed an increase in the cytotoxicity and the antitumor activity in Sarcoma-180; 2-hydroxymethyl-DHAQ ($ED_{50}$, $15\mu\textrm{g}$/ml; T/C, 125%), 2-(1 -hydroxyethyl)-DHAQ($1.9{\mu}g/ml;139.2%)$;, 2-(1-hydroxypropyl)-DHAQ ($7.2{\mu}g$/ml; 135.1%), 2-(1-hydroxybutyl)-DHAQ ($10.2{\mu}g/ml; 125.3%)$, 2-(1-hydroxypentyl)-DHAQ ($23.7{\mu}g/ml; 110.1%$). and 2-(1-hydroxyhexyl)-DHAQ ($58{\mu}g/ml;108%$). Next, 2-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)-DHAQ derivatives were acetylated to produce 2-(1-acetoxyalkyl)-DHAQ analogues. Although the acetylation somewhat enhanced the cytotoxicity, but not the antitumor action. In addition, the presence of phenyl group at $C-1^{l}$ enhanced the cytotoxicity and the T/C value, compared to alkyl groups of same size; 2-(1-hydroxy-1-phenyl)-DHAQ ($ED_{50}$, $5.6{\mu}g$, T/C, 137%).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.592-607
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• 1999

2-(1-Aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-and 2-aroyl-DHAQ derivatives (DHAQ, 1,4-dihydroxy-,10-anthraquinone), and 2-(1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-ATO derivatives (ATO, anthraceneactivity (T/C 125~128%), though their cytotoxicity was not further improved compared to that of 2-(1-aryl-1-dydroxymethyl)-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones. They manifested no correlation between the cytotoxicity and the antitumor activity. In case of 2-[1-hydroxy-1-(4-propylphenyl)-methyl]-ATO, the most bioactive one in viv-1,4,9,10-tetraone) were synthesized and their antitumor activities were determined. 2-(1-Aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-DHAQ derivatives showed a stronger cytotoxicity compared to the series of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone derivatives. It was suggested that the presence of aryl group at the side chain accelerated the bioreductive activation leading to cell death. 2-Aroyl-DHAQ derivatives, despite their higher electrophilicity, revealed smaller cytotoxicity and antitumor activity (expressed by T/C value) than 2-(1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)-DHAQ derivatives. Thus, no consistent relationship between the electronic effect on aromatic side chain and the cytotoxicity was observed. ATO series exhibited a higher antitumor o among the same series, it showed an $ED_{50}$ value of 10.2 mg/mL and a T/C value of 218%. It is assumed that the anthrancene1,4,9,10-tetraones after uptake into cellular tissues might be transformed to a cytotoxic metabolite(s).