Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of derivatives of ring A of asiatic acid.

Based on the simulation of the docking of survivin protein with known small molecule inhibitors, the active groups which can bind to target proteins were analyzed by the techniques of computer-aided drug design (CADD). These active groups were introduced into the A-ring of asiatic acid and their C-28 sites were reconstructed simultaneously. Ten asiatic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by MS and NMR. The inhibitory activities of the asiatic acid derivatives against HepG2 and SGC7901 cell lines were evaluated and confirmed by the tetrazolium bromidesalt (MTT) assay. The results showed that compounds I6 and II4 exhibited more potent cytotoxicity than the positive control drug gefitinib, which was comparable to that of adriamycin.[Formula: see text].