Synthesis and Antitumor Activity Evaluation of New Phenanthrene-Based Tylophorine Derivatives

A series of new phenanthrene-based tylophorine derivatives (PBTs) were synthesized in good yield and their structures were characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and ESI MS. In vitro antitumor activity of these compounds against five human carcinoma cell lines, including HCT116 (colorectal), BGC-823 (gastric), HepG-2 (hepatic), Hela (cervical) and H460 (lung) cells, was evaluated by MTT assay. Among these PBTs, compound 6b showed the highest antitumor activities against HCT116 and HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 6.1 and 6.4 μM, respectively, which were comparable to that of adriamycin hydrochloride. The structure-activity relationship of these compounds was also discussed based on the results of their antitumor activity.