Synthesis of New Glycosylated Flavonoids with Inhibitory Activity on Cell Growth

Natural flavonoids and xanthone glycosides display several biological activities, with the glycoside moiety playing an important role in the mechanism of action of these metabolites. Herein, to give further insights into the inhibitory activity on cell growth of these classes of compounds, the synthesis of four flavonoids (5, 6, 9, and 10) and one xanthone (7) containing one or more acetoglycoside moieties was carried out. Acetyl groups were introduced using acetic anhydride and microwave irradiation. The introduction of one or two acetoglycoside moieties in the framework of 3,7-dihydroxyflavone (4) was performed using two synthetic methods: the Michael reaction and the Koenigs-Knorr reaction. The in vitro cell growth inhibitory activity of compounds 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 was investigated in six human tumor cell lines: A375-C5 (malignant melanoma IL-1 insensitive), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), U251 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), U373 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), and U87MG (glioblastoma astrocytoma). The new flavonoid 3-hydroxy-7-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-glucopyranosyl) flavone (10) was the most potent compound in all tumor cell lines tested, with GI50 values < 8 μM and a notable degree of selectivity for cancer cells.


Introduction
Flavonoid and xanthone derivatives comprise two classes of oxygenated heterocycles associated with a large number of biological and pharmacological activities [1,2]. These compounds also occur in nature as glycosides, which have been shown to have several biological activities, namely, antimicrobial [3][4][5], antioxidant [6][7][8][9], and antitumor [10,11]. Flavonoid glycosides are widely present in vegetables and fruits and can be found with different types of glycosides, while xanthone glycosides are mainly found in the families Gentianaceae and Polygalaceae with a glucose moiety [12]. In particular, acetylated flavonoid and xanthone glycosides have been reported as bioactive compounds with antioxidant [13,14] and antitumor activities [15][16][17][18][19]. The last step in flavonoid biosynthesis is, in some plant species, terminated by acylation, which is known to increase the solubility and stability of glycosylated flavonoids in lipophilic systems [20]. Thus, we were inspired to perform acetylation

Synthesis
Rutin peracetate (5) was obtained from rutin (1) according to a classical acetylation method using acetic anhydride under reflux for 4 h in solvent-free conditions (Scheme 1) [25]. Previously, compound 5 was obtained in the presence of pyridine with long reaction times [26]. The synthesis of compound 5 without using pyridine and with short reaction times is reported for the first time.
Several products that were difficult to separate were obtained when this acetylation method was applied to diosmin (2) and mangiferin (3). Diosmin peracetate (6) was successfully obtained in only 35 min (62% yield) in the presence of NaF, under microwave (MW) irradiation (Scheme 1) [27]. Peracetylation of mangiferin (3) was achieved in only 15 min (78% yield) under MW irradiation, but only when iodine was used as a catalyst (Scheme 1).
Previous methods described to synthesize compounds 6 and 7 used highly toxic pyridine as solvent and catalyst, which was applied room temperature, leading to long reaction times [28][29][30][31][32]. Herein, the application of MW irradiation without pyridine allowed the synthesis of compounds 6 and 7 in short reaction times.

Synthesis
Rutin peracetate (5) was obtained from rutin (1) according to a classical acetylation method using acetic anhydride under reflux for 4 h in solvent-free conditions (Scheme 1) [25]. Previously, compound 5 was obtained in the presence of pyridine with long reaction times [26]. The synthesis of compound 5 without using pyridine and with short reaction times is reported for the first time.
Several products that were difficult to separate were obtained when this acetylation method was applied to diosmin (2) and mangiferin (3). Diosmin peracetate (6) was successfully obtained in only 35 min (62% yield) in the presence of NaF, under microwave (MW) irradiation (Scheme 1) [27]. Peracetylation of mangiferin (3) was achieved in only 15 min (78% yield) under MW irradiation, but only when iodine was used as a catalyst (Scheme 1).
Previous methods described to synthesize compounds 6 and 7 used highly toxic pyridine as solvent and catalyst, which was applied room temperature, leading to long reaction times [28][29][30][31][32]. Herein, the application of MW irradiation without pyridine allowed the synthesis of compounds 6 and 7 in short reaction times.

Structure Elucidation
The structure of compounds 5-7 was established comparing their 1 H and 13 C NMR data with the reported in the literature [29,30,38,39], while the structures of the compounds 9 and 10 was elucidated for the first time, using infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques ( Figures S1-S4).
For instance, the IR spectrum of compound 9 showed a strong band at 1750 cm −1 , which is characteristic of the C=O ester stretching vibration. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 9 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and of two sugar moieties. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 10 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and one acetylated sugar moiety. The assignments of the carbon atoms directly bonded to proton atoms were achieved from heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) experiments, and the chemical shifts of the carbon atoms not directly bonded to proton atoms were deduced from heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) correlations. For instance, Figure 2 shows the correlations found for compound 10.

Structure Elucidation
The structure of compounds 5-7 was established comparing their 1 H and 13 C NMR data with the reported in the literature [29,30,38,39], while the structures of the compounds 9 and 10 was elucidated for the first time, using infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques ( Figures S1-S4).
For instance, the IR spectrum of compound 9 showed a strong band at 1750 cm −1 , which is characteristic of the C=O ester stretching vibration. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 9 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and of two sugar moieties. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 10 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and one acetylated sugar moiety. The assignments of the carbon atoms directly bonded to proton atoms were achieved from heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) experiments, and the chemical shifts of the carbon atoms not directly bonded to proton atoms were deduced from heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) correlations. For instance, Figure 2 shows the correlations found for compound 10.

Structure Elucidation
The structure of compounds 5-7 was established comparing their 1 H and 13 C NMR data with the reported in the literature [29,30,38,39], while the structures of the compounds 9 and 10 was elucidated for the first time, using infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) techniques ( Figures S1-S4).
For instance, the IR spectrum of compound 9 showed a strong band at 1750 cm −1 , which is characteristic of the C=O ester stretching vibration. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 9 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and of two sugar moieties. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of compound 10 indicated the presence of a flavone moiety and one acetylated sugar moiety. The assignments of the carbon atoms directly bonded to proton atoms were achieved from heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) experiments, and the chemical shifts of the carbon atoms not directly bonded to proton atoms were deduced from heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) correlations. For instance, Figure 2 shows the correlations found for compound 10. The position of the sugar moiety in compound 10 was evidenced by the correlation found in the HMBC spectrum between the proton signals of H-1″ (δH 5.16-5.36 ppm) and the carbon signal of C-7 (δC 160.9 ppm).

Growth Inhibition Activity in Human Tumor Cell Lines
Acetylated flavonosides 5, 6, 9, 10, and acetylated xanthonoside 7, as well as their precursors, compounds 1-4, were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory effect on six human tumor cell lines: A375-C5 (IL-1 insensitive malignant melanoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung cancer), U251 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), U373 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), and U87MG (glioblastoma astrocytoma). For the tested compounds, a dose-response curve was established, and the results, summarized in Table 1, are expressed as the concentration that was able to cause 50% cell growth inhibition (GI50). Doxorubicin was used as positive control. GI50-concentration for 50% of maximal inhibition of cell proliferation. ND-not determined. * iLogP from SwissADME software using an in-house physics-based method implemented from [40].
Concerning the precursors, flavone 4 was the only precursor that showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of IL-1 insensitive A375-C5, estrogen-dependent MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cell lines.
In contrast to compounds 5, 7, and 10, diosmin peracetate (6) did not show an inhibitory effect on the growth of any of the six human tumor cell lines tested. Rutin peracetate (5) exhibited a good growth inhibitory activity in all the cell lines tested, mangiferin peracetate (7) showed a moderate growth inhibitory activity only in IL-1 insensitive A375-C5, estrogen-dependent MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cell lines, while compound 10 was the most potent compound in all human tumor cell lines tested, with GI50 values < 8 μM.
The presence of the acetyl groups in compounds 5 and 7 was found to be crucial for their cell growth inhibitory activity (comparing with compounds 1 and 3, respectively). Acylation has been a strategy used to increase the penetration of flavonoids through the cell membrane [41,42]. When comparing the peracetylated compounds (5-7, 9), some correlations can be found between The position of the sugar moiety in compound 10 was evidenced by the correlation found in the HMBC spectrum between the proton signals of H-1" (δ H 5.16-5.36 ppm) and the carbon signal of C-7 (δ C 160.9 ppm).

Growth Inhibition Activity in Human Tumor Cell Lines
Acetylated flavonosides 5, 6, 9, 10, and acetylated xanthonoside 7, as well as their precursors, compounds 1-4, were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory effect on six human tumor cell lines: A375-C5 (IL-1 insensitive malignant melanoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung cancer), U251 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), U373 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), and U87MG (glioblastoma astrocytoma). For the tested compounds, a dose-response curve was established, and the results, summarized in Table 1, are expressed as the concentration that was able to cause 50% cell growth inhibition (GI 50 ). Doxorubicin was used as positive control. GI 50 -concentration for 50% of maximal inhibition of cell proliferation. ND-not determined. * iLogP from SwissADME software using an in-house physics-based method implemented from [40].
Concerning the precursors, flavone 4 was the only precursor that showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of IL-1 insensitive A375-C5, estrogen-dependent MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cell lines.
In contrast to compounds 5, 7, and 10, diosmin peracetate (6) did not show an inhibitory effect on the growth of any of the six human tumor cell lines tested. Rutin peracetate (5) exhibited a good growth inhibitory activity in all the cell lines tested, mangiferin peracetate (7) showed a moderate growth inhibitory activity only in IL-1 insensitive A375-C5, estrogen-dependent MCF-7, and NCI-H460 cell lines, while compound 10 was the most potent compound in all human tumor cell lines tested, with GI 50 values < 8 µM.
The presence of the acetyl groups in compounds 5 and 7 was found to be crucial for their cell growth inhibitory activity (comparing with compounds 1 and 3, respectively). Acylation has been a strategy used to increase the penetration of flavonoids through the cell membrane [41,42]. When comparing the peracetylated compounds (5)(6)(7)9), some correlations can be found between lipophilicity and the cell growth inhibitory effect, especially in melanoma cells; compound 5, with the highest calculated logP value, was also associated with the highest inhibitory effect. It is noteworthy that compound 10, the only investigated acetylated glycoside with a free hydroxyl, was the most active derivative, highlighting the importance of both types of substituents. The position of the sugar moiety in flavonoids seems to be critical for the inhibitory activity.
The selectivity index was calculated for compounds 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, and for Doxorubicin ( Table 2). As outlined in Table 2, the results clearly reflect a notable degree of selectivity of compound 10 in all cell lines studied. Of note, human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 responded very well by exhibiting a higher selectivity index than the other cancer cell lines. As to the other compounds, some had no selectivity (4 and 7) while the others (5) or (9) exhibited some selectivity regarding the cancer lines in which they were most active. Interestingly, all tested compounds exhibited a better degree of selectivity than Doxorubicin.

General Information
Commercially available reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co. (Sintra, Portugal) and BioSolve (Dieuze, France). Dichloromethane was dried using the following procedure: pre-drying with CaSO 4 and reflux over calcium hydride and distillation onto 4 Å molecular sieves [43]. Extra-dry acetone was purchased from BioSolve (France). Reactions were controlled by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using Merck silica gel 60 (GF254) plates. Compounds were visually detected by absorbance at 254 and/or 365 nm and ferric chloride 10% in methanol (MeOH). Purification of compounds by flash chromatography was carried out using Fluka silica gel 60 (0.04-0.063 mm). MW reactions were performed using a MicroSYNTH 1600 from Milestone (ThermoUnicam, Lisboa, Portugal) synthesizer in open reaction vessels. IR spectra were obtained in KBr microplate in a FTIR spectrometer Nicolet is 10 from Thermo Scientific with Smart OMNI-Transmission accessory (Software OMNIC 8.3, Thermo Scientific, Madison, WI, USA). 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra were performed in University of Aveiro, Department of Chemistry and were taken in CDCl 3 or DMSO-d 6 , at room temperature, on Bruker Avance 300 instrument (300.13 MHz for 1 H and 75.47 MHz for 13 C, Bruker Biosciences Corporation, Billerica, MA, USA). 13 C NMR assignments were made by 2D HSQC and HMBC experiments (long-range C, H coupling constants were optimized to 7 and 1 Hz). Chemical shifts are expressed in ppm values relative to tetramethylsilane (TMS) as an internal reference. Coupling constants are reported in hertz (Hz). HRMS mass spectra were measured on an APEX III mass spectrometer, recorded as ESI (Electrospray) made in Centro de Apoio Científico e Tecnolóxico á Investigation (CACTI, University of Vigo, Spain). Six human tumor cell lines were used to study antitumor activity: MCF-7 ER (+) (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung cancer), and A375-C5 (melanoma), U251 (glioblastoma astrocytoma), U373 (glioblastoma astrocytoma) and U87MG (glioblastoma astrocytoma).
The effect of compounds on the cell growth was evaluated according to the procedure adopted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the 'In vitro Anticancer Drug Discovery Screen', which uses the protein-binding dye sulforhodamine B (SRB) to assess cell growth. Cells were plated in 96-well plates (0.05 × 106 cells/well) in complete culture medium and incubated at 37 • C. Twenty-four hours later, cells were treated with two-fold serial dilutions of the test compounds, ranging from 0 to 150 µM, for 48 h. Control groups received the same amount of sterile Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO, Sigma-Aldrich), used as compounds solvent, up to 0.25% concentration. Then, cells were fixed in situ with 50% (m/v) trichloroacetic acid (Merck Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany), washed with distilled water and stained with Sulforhodamine B (SRB; Sigma-Aldrich) for 30 min at room temperature. The SRB-stained cells were washed 5 times with 1% (v/v) acetic acid (Merck Millipore) and left to dry at room temperature. SRB complexes were solubilized, by adding 10 mM Tris buffer (Sigma-Aldrich) for 30 min. Absorbance was measured at 515 nm in a microplate reader (Biotek Synergy 2,BioTek Instruments, Inc., Winooski, VT, USA). A dose-response curve was obtained for each cell line with each test compound, and the concentration that caused cell growth inhibition of 50% (GI 50 ) was determined.
The degree of selectivity of the compounds was assessed by determining the selectivity index (SI) as the ratio of GI 50 in non-tumor Human Pulmonary Alveolar Epithelial Cells (HPAEpiC) over GI 50 in cancer cells. An SI value less than 2.0 indicates the general toxicity of the compound [44].

Conclusions
In this work, four acetylated flavonosides (5, 6, 9, and 10), and one xanthonoside (7) were synthesized. As far as we know, compounds 9 and 10 are described for the first time. Compound 5 was synthesized without pyridine in a shorter reaction time. Applying MW irradiation to the synthesis of compounds 6 and 7 allowed to shorten the reaction times.
The in vitro growth inhibitory activity of compounds 5-7 and compounds 9 and 10 was investigated. 3-Hydroxy-7-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-glucopyranosyl) flavone (10) was the most active compound in all the human tumor cell lines tested with notable selectivity for cancer cells. The mechanism of action of this promising compound deserves to be further explored. The position of the sugar moiety seems to influence the activity of these compounds.
These results are a starting point from which to investigate more stable chemical modifications in order to optimize such molecules and develop detailed structure-activity relationship studies in future.