Semi-synthesis and anti-tumor activity of 5,8-O-dimethyl acylshikonin derivatives.

A set of twenty-two 5,8-O-dimethyl acylshikonin derivatives were designed and synthesized starting from shikonin. The cell-based investigation demonstrated that these dimethylated derivatives were less active than or equally effective to shikonin. However, the selective cytotoxicities toward MCF-7 were found among these derivatives, together with no toxicity in the normal cell. Furthermore, compounds 3f, 3p, 3r were subjected to KM mice suffering from S-180 carcinoma subcutaneously, which possessed more potent than Fluorouracil, a typical anticancer drug used clinically. So we may conclude that the modification to the mother nucleus of shikonin via the methylation is an available approach to acquiring anti-tumor agents with higher selectivity and lower toxicity.