Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of some novel C-17 analogs of ursolic and oleanolic acids

A series of seventeen novel analogs of ursolic and oleanolic acid were synthesized (60–98 %), and evaluated for their anti-cancer potential against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines. Compounds (3–10) showed comparable or better activities than their respective parent compounds against SiHa and HeLa (Cervix), A-549 (Lung), and IMR-32 (Neuroblastoma) cancer cell lines. Significantly, among the bromoalkyl esters (11–19), compound 13 showed promising anti-cancer activity against Leukemia THP-1 cell line at 10 μM concentration. In this series, it is interesting to note that the increase in chain length has an adverse effect on the activity.