Gypsogenin

The First Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Gypsogenin Derivative Exhibiting Anti-ABL1 Kinase and Anti-chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Activities.[Pubmed:29386476]

Biol Pharm Bull. 2018 Apr 1;41(4):570-574.

The discovery of the chimeric tyrosine kinase breakpoint cluster region kinase-Abelson kinase (BCR-ABL)-targeted drug imatinib conceptually changed the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, some CML patients show drug resistance to imatinib. To address this issue, some artificial heterocyclic compounds have been identified as BCR-ABL inhibitors. Here we examined whether plant-derived pentacyclic triterpenoid Gypsogenin and/or their derivatives show inhibitory activity against BCR-ABL. Among the three derivatives, benzyl 3-hydroxy-23-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate (1c) was found to be the most effective anticancer agent on the CML cell line K562, with an IC50 value of 9.3 microM. In contrast, the IC50 against normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was 276.0 microM, showing better selectivity than imatinib. Compound 1c had in vitro inhibitory activity against Abelson kinase 1 (ABL1) (IC50=8.7 microM), the kinase component of BCR-ABL. In addition, compound 1c showed a different inhibitory profile against eight kinases compared with imatinib. The interaction between ATP binding site of ABL and 1c was examined by molecular docking study, and the binding mode was different from imatinib and newer generation inhibitors. Furthermore, 1c suppressed signaling downstream of BCR-ABL. This study suggests the possibility that plant extracts may be a source for CML treatment and offer a strategy to overcome drug resistance to known BCR-ABL inhibitors.

Synthesis, Formulation, and Adjuvanticity of Monodesmosidic Saponins with Olenanolic Acid, Hederagenin and Gypsogenin Aglycones, and some C-28 Ester Derivatives.[Pubmed:27308200]

ChemistryOpen. 2015 Sep 30;4(6):740-55.

In an attempt to discover a new synthetic vaccine adjuvant, the glycosylation of hederagenin, Gypsogenin, and oleanolic acid acceptors with di- and trisaccharide donors to generate a range of mimics of natural product QS-21 was carried out. The saponins were formulated with phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, and the structures analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. 3-O-(Manp(1-->3)Glcp)hederagenin was found to produce numerous ring-like micelles when formulated, while C-28 choline ester derivatives preferred self-assembly and did not interact with the liposomes. When alone and in the presence of cholesterol and phospholipid, the choline ester derivatives produced nanocrystalline rods or helical micelles. The effects of modifying sugar stereochemistry and the aglycone on the immunostimulatory effects of the saponins was then evaluated using the activation markers MHC class II and CD86 in murine bone marrow dendritic cells. The most active saponin, 3-O-(Manp(1-->3)Glcp)hederagenin, was stimulatory at high concentrations in cell culture, but this did not translate to strong responses in vivo.

Gypsogenin derivatives: an unexpected class of inhibitors of cholinesterases.[Pubmed:25042600]

Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 2014 Oct;347(10):707-16.

Gypsogenin (1) was obtained by acidic hydrolysis from its saponin. While the parent compound 1 acted as a selective inhibitor for butyrylcholinesterase (from equus) possessing a moderate mixed-type inhibition of the enzyme, Ki values as low as 2.67 +/- 0.59 muM were determined for (3beta,4alpha) 3-O-acetyl-olean-12-ene-23,28-dinitrile (11) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE, from electric eel). Thus, 11 possesses one-fifth of the inhibitory activity of the "gold standard" galantamine hydrobromide; this compound is one of the first pentacyclic triterpenoids described as a potent AChE-selective inhibitor.