Planta Med 2008; 74 - P-21
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1075217

Anticancer and Antimalarial Dihydroartemisinin Dimer Oximes

W Gul 1, 2, A Galal 2, D Slade 2, SI Khan 2, MA ElSohly 1, 2, 3
  • 1ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., 5 Industrial Park Drive, Oxford, MS 38655, USA
  • 2National Center for Natural Products Research,
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy,The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

The natural product artemisinin (1), a sesquiterpene endoperoxide first isolated in 1971 from the Chinese plant Artemisia annua [1], has cytotoxic effects against EN-2 tumor cells [2], P-388, A549, HT-29, MCF-7 and KB-tumor cells [3]. In an attempt to develop new chemotherapeutic agents, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) dimer oximes were prepared by condensation of DHA (2) with dihydroxy-acetone to afford 3, followed by conversion into the dimer oximes (4–7). These oximes showed anticancer [4], and anti-malarial activity. Synthesis, spectroscopic data and in vitro biological activity of these compounds are presented. References: [1] Coordinating Group for Research on the Structure of Qing Hau Sau: A new type of sesquiterpene lactone (1977) Kexue Tongbao, 22: 142. Chemical Abstracts (1977) 87: 98788 g. [2] Beekman AC, et al. (1997) Journal of Natural Products 60: 325–330. [3] Zheng GQ (1994) Planta Medica, 60: 54–57. [4] ElSohly MA, Gul W, International Publication # WO 2006002105 A1.