Photodynamic effects of two hydroxyanthraquinones

The aim of this work was to investigate the photodynamic action of electron-rich anthraquinones, viz., cynodontin (CYN) and cynodontin-5,8-dimethylether (CYNM). Both optical and EPR methods are used to detect the generation of singlet oxygen. Based on RNO bleaching, relative to rose bengal (RB), singlet oxygen generating efficiencies of CYN and CYNM are derived to be 0.055 and 0.254, respectively. The formation of superoxide anion via electron transfer to O2 was monitored by optical spectroscopy, using SOD-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction assay. The production of O2-* is enhanced in the presence of electron donors such as EDTA and NADH. Photolysis of CYN and CYNM in DMSO, in the presence of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), generates a multi-line EPR spectrum, characteristic of spin adduct mixture of O2-* and *OH. Both optical and ESR measurements indicate that O2-* (Type I) and 1O2 (Type II) paths are involved in CYN and CYNM photodynamic action.

Cytotoxicity, redox cycling and photodynamic action of two naturally occurring quinones

Two naturally occurring anthraquinones, barleriaquinone-I (BQ-I) and barleriaquinone-II (BQ-II), extracted from Barleria buxifolia, are tested for their cytotoxic action by aerobic incubation with human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF7). Cytotoxicities, measured as LD(50) (50% inhibition of colony formation) values, show BQ-II to be more active than BQ-I. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies confirm that BQ-II is reductively activated by NADH:cytochrome c reductase to superoxide anion radical. Cyclic voltammetric studies show one quasi-reversible redox couple for both BQ-I and BQ-II. Also, aerobic solutions of both BQ-I and BQ-II on visible illumination generate reactive oxygen species. Formation of O*-2 is studied by both EPR spin trapping and SOD-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction techniques. BQ-I generates more singlet oxygen as evidenced from the photobleaching of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline.

Cytotoxicity and superoxide anion generation by some naturally occurring quinones

Four naturally occurring quinones, mansonone-D (MD), mansonone-H (MH), thespone (TP) and thespesone (TPE), extracted from the heartwood of Thespesia populnea have been tested for their cytotoxic action by aerobic incubation with human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Toxicity of the quinones follows the order MD > TP > MH approximately TPE. EPR spectrometric and Clark electrode oximetric studies indicate that redox cycling of these quinones produce superoxide anion radical (O2*-) and H2O2 on aerobic incubation with NADH:cytochrome c reductase. Generation of superoxide radical during enzymatic reduction of quinones, was confirmed by EPR spin trapping experiment using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap. Cyclic voltammetric studies show reversible redox couples for MD and TP whereas TPE and MH show irreversible redox couple. The electrochemical results indicate that MH and TPE are more difficult to reduce than TP and MD.

Cytotoxic effect of 2,3-disubstituted chromanones in human cancer cell lines

Four different synthetic compounds [3-aryl-2-(3-pyridyl)chromanones] were prepared and screened for cytotoxicity against a panel of 29 human cancer cell lines in five different concentrations separately. All compounds displayed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines and one of them possessed cell type selectivity also.