Synthesis, Cytotoxicity, Anti-migration and Anti-invasion Activity of Diphyllin Heterocyclic Derivatives.

Background Diphyllin, an arylnaphthalene lignan lactone, isolated from many traditional medicinal plants, has been reported to possess anticancer and antiviral activities. Natural diphyllin and its glycosides were identified as potent vacuolar H+ -ATPase (V-ATPase) inhibitors. Objective The aim of this study was to design and synthesize a series of heterocyclic derivatives of diphyllin as novel anticancer agents. Methods The targeted heterocyclic derivatives of diphyllin were synthesized from diphyllin employing etherification reaction and N-substitution reaction. Cytotoxicity of these compounds on four cancer cells was assessed by MTT assay. The inhibitory activity of V-ATPase of compound 3n was measured on MGC-803 cells. Anti-migration and anti-invasion abilities were assessed by transwell invasion assay and scratch wound assay. Results Most of these derivatives displayed potent cytotoxicity on four cancer cells at submicromolar concentrations. The most potent derivative 3n has been shown to inhibited V-ATPase activity, migration and invasion abilities on MGC-803 cells at 0.75 mM. Conclusion The collective results clearly indicate that heterocyclic derivatives of diphyllin inhibit the viability, V-ATPase activity, migration and invasion of the MGC803 cells. The current findings provide valuable insights for the future development of novel diphyllin derivatives as anticancer agents.