Showing papers by "Lester A. Mitscher published in 1986"
TL;DR: Higher plants should also contain molecules capable of antimutagenicity so as to survive the effects of their own metabolism, and a rather more distant hope is that such substances might be safe enough to provide protection for individuals perceived to be at risk.
Abstract: The reproduction and maintenance of identity of species are biological imperatives, and it is not surprising that there exist mechanisms to minimize or repair the deleterious influence of noxious chemicals in the environment on DNA. Animals tend to defend themselves through the use of enzymes which intercept aggressive chemicals and convert them to less dangerous substances. Animal cells also contain a variety of preformed smaller molecular weight chemicals which can react with oxidized species and free radicals and convert them to less virulent electrophiles (1). It is now becoming clear that higher plants also contain a variety of preformed secondary metabolites which represent a structurally diverse array of antimutagenic and desmutagenic compounds (6). Many, but not all, would appear to be enzyme inhibitors or antioxidants. Since a number of plant constitu-ents are mutagenic (18), it seems reasonable that higher plants should also contain molecules capable of antimutagenicity so as to survive the effects of their own metabolism. Study of such substances has the potential of revealing much interesting molecular detail about the processes of mutagenesis and antimutagenesis. A rather more distant hope is that such substances might be safe enough to provide protection for individuals perceived to be at risk. This would appear to be the case with a number of minor anticarcinogenic constituents consumed as part of our diet (4, 20).
45 citations
TL;DR: It was demonstrated through degradative and spectroscopic studies that the benzanthrins were di-glycosides of a trihydroxy benz[a]anthraquinone chromophore where one of the sugars was linked through carbon and the other through oxygen.
Abstract: The benzanthrins, which were produced by Nocardia lurida, were extracted from the fermentation broth with CH2Cl2. Subsequent purification on Sephadex LH-20 and diolbonded silica gel, followed by countercurrent chromatography, afforded analytically pure benzanthrins A and B. FAB-MS revealed that benzanthrins A and B were isomeric. It was demonstrated through degradative and spectroscopic studies that the benzanthrins were di-glycosides of a trihydroxy benz[a]anthraquinone chromophore where one of the sugars was linked through carbon and the other through oxygen. Benzanthrins A and B differed in the stereochemistry of the O-glycosidic sugar. Both compounds inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and 9KB, 9PS and 9ASK tumor cells in tissue culture.
29 citations
TL;DR: It is confirmed that there is a substantial degree of bulk tolerance available at N-1 of quinolone antimicrobial agents and suggest that electronic factors controlled by substitution at that site are of considerable importance.
Abstract: New quinolone antimicrobial agents (racemic, (1'S,2'R)- and (1'R,2'S)-6-fluoro-7-(1-piperazinyl)-1-(2'-trans-phenyl-1'-cyclopropyl)- 1, 4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids) were synthesized, and their in vitro antimicrobial potencies and spectra were determined. As compared to their conceptual parents, these agents retained a considerable amount of the antimicrobial potency and spectra of ciprofloxacin and of 6-fluoro-1-phenyl-7-(1-piperazinyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxy lic acid against Gram-positives. Gram-negatives were considerably less sensitive. The (-)-(1'S,2'R) analogue was the more potent of the enantiomers, but the degree of chiral discrimination by most bacteria was only 4-fold. The 4-fold chiral discrimination was observed also using purified DNA gyrase obtained from Micrococcus luteus, whereas the two enantiomers were essentially equiactive against the enzyme derived from Escherichia coli. These results confirm that there is a substantial degree of bulk tolerance available at N-1 of quinolone antimicrobial agents and suggest that electronic factors controlled by substitution at that site are of considerable importance. On the other hand, chiral recognition brought about by attachment of optically active groups to the N-1 position in these derivatives is relatively small.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of a series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes structurally related to juncusol (1a), a postulated phytoalexin with confirmed cytotoxicity properties, are detailed.
Abstract: The antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of a series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes structurally related to juncusol (1a), a postulated phytoalexin with confirmed cytotoxic properties, are detailed. Two simple 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes, 2,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (2h, desvinyljuncusol) and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (3h), were found to possess in vitro antimicrobial activity comparable with that of the natural product. Two 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes substituted with quaternary ammonium salts, 2d and 3d, each containing a reactive benzylic dimethyl[(phenylthio)methyl]ammonio group, were found to be 10-20 times more potent than juncusol (1a). Confirmed in vitro cytotoxic activity that parallels antimicrobial activity was found for juncusol (1a), desvinyljuncusol (2h), 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (3h), and the quaternary dimethyl[(phenylthio)methyl]ammonium salts 2d and 3d in a human lymphoblastic leukemia cell culture (CCRF-CEM, IC50 = nt, 9.3, nt, 0.9 and 1.4 microgram/mL, respectively), B-16 mouse melanoma cell culture (IC50 = 12.5, 17.5, 27.7, 0.3, and 0.5 microgram/mL, respectively), and L-1210 mouse lymphocytic leukemia cell culture (IC50 = 13.8, 10.2, 24.5, 1.3, and 3.7 micrograms/mL, respectively). The comparable potency and spectrum of activity of juncusol (1a), desvinyljuncusol (2h), and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (3h) suggest that the agents are acting as simple phenols in exerting their antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects.