Minor withanolides of Physalis longifolia: Structure and cytotoxicity

In our recent publication on bioactive guided isolation of compounds from Physalis longifolia (Solanaceae) novel anti-proliferative agents withalongolides A (4) and B (5), and their highly cytotoxic analogues, withalongolide A 4,19,27-triacetate (4a) and withalongolide B 4,19-diacetate (5a) were elucidated. In this study, the two lead compounds (4, 5) were re-isolated in gram quantities for the purpose of further analogue preparation and in vivo testing that would continue to probe structure-activity relationships. During this process, two additional withanolides, named withalongolides O (1) and P (2), were elucidated. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques with 1 being subsequently confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Utilizing a MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphe- nyl)- 2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] viability assay, withalongolide O (1) and its 4,7-diaceatate (1a), both containing the functionalities of Δ²-1-oxo- in A ring, a 5β,6β-epoxy in B ring, and a lactone ring in the nine-carbon side chain, exhibited potent cytotoxicity against human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (JMAR and MDA-1986), melanoma (B16F10 and SKMEL-28), and normal fetal lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells with IC₅₀ values in the range between 0.15 and 2.95μM. In addition, the previously reported α orientation of 7-acetate group in acnistins C and D should be revised to the β orientation on the basis of NMR data comparison.