Naphthoquinones cytotoxic effects

Naphthazarin and its derivates were isolated from Cetraria islandica. This naphthoquinone demonstrates in in vitro experiments strong cytotoxic effect to human epidermal carcinoma cells. Dimer of this naphthoquinone, hybocarpone, was isolated from Lecanora hybocarpa (Babula et al. 2009). 

T. Nakatani, K. Ohtani, S. Sakanaka, CS059 M. Kim and I. Matsui-Yuasa. Protective effect of green tea extract and tea polyphenols against the cytotoxicity of 1,4-naphthoquinone in isolated rat hepatocytes. Biosci Biotech Biochem 1997 61(11) 1901-1905. 

Some synthetic lapachol derivatives have also showed cytotoxic activity. Burton et al have prepared mono(arylimino) derivatives of P-lapachone. Some of these derivatives had good scores with net cell kills in preliminary in vivo testing hollow fiber assays against a standard panel of 12 human tumor cell lines [160].Twelve substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones were tested against the ascitic form of sarcoma 180 in Swiss mice. Statistical analysis showed that the most important molecular parameter determining their effectiveness in prolonging the life of mice bearing this tumor is their redox potentials [161]. Zalkow et al have synthesized a monoimine quinone, namely 2-methyl-(Z)-4-phenylimino)naphth[2,3-d]oxazol-9-one, which in in vitro tests showed a selective activity for some solid cancer tumors [162]. Enamine derivatives of lapachol were... 

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