Cytotoxity of two new coumarin derivatives isolated from <i>Launaea mucronata</i>

<div><p>The chloroform fraction of methanol (MeOH) extract of the aerial parts of <i>Launaea mucronata</i> was <i>in vitro</i> investigated for cytotoxicity against HCT116, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines, and resulted with IC₅₀ = 20.0, 18.6 and 14.30 μg/mL, respectively. The chloroform fraction of the MeOH extract was subjected to further fractionation, which led to the isolation of two new coumarin compounds (6-isobutyl coumarin and 6-isobutyl-7-methyl- coumarin). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by high field 1D and 2D NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies. Low polar fractions revealed the isolation of other known triterpene compounds which were identified according to its spectral data and comparison with the literature. New coumarin compounds show high cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HCT116 and HepG2 cell lines.</p></div

Synthesis, <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> antitumor and antiviral activity of novel 1-substituted benzimidazole derivatives

<div><p></p><p>A novel series of 5-nitro-1<i>H</i>-benzimidazole derivatives substituted at position 1 by heterocyclic rings was synthesized. Cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of the new compounds were tested. Compound <b>3</b> was more active than doxorubicin against A-549, HCT-116 and MCF-7. However, compound <b>3</b> showed no activity against human liver carcinoma Hep G-2 cell line. Compounds <b>9</b> and <b>17b</b> (<i>E</i>) showed potency near to doxorubicin against the four cell lines. The acute toxicity of compound <b>9</b> on liver cancer induced in rats was determined <i>in vivo</i>. Interestingly, it showed restoration activity of liver function and pathology towards normal as compared to the cancer-bearing rats induced by DENA. Compounds <b>17a</b> (<i>Z</i>), <b>17b</b> (<i>E</i>) and <b>18a</b> (<i>Z</i>) were the most promising compounds for their antiviral activity against rotavirus Wa strain.</p></div