A Dimerosesquiterpene and Sesquiterpene Lactones from Artemisia argyi Inhibiting Oncogenic PI3K/AKT Signaling in Melanoma Cells

J Nat Prod. 2022 Nov 25;85(11):2557-2569. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00471. Epub 2022 Nov 9.

Abstract

A library of more than 2500 plant extracts was screened for activity on oncogenic signaling in melanoma cells. The ethyl acetate extract from the aerial parts of Artemisia argyi displayed pronounced inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Active compounds were tracked with the aid of HPLC-based activity profiling, and altogether 21 active compounds were isolated, including one novel dimerosequiterpenoid (1), one new disesquiterpenoid (2), three new guaianolides (3-5), 12 known sesquiterpenoids (6-17), and four known flavonoids (19-22). A new eudesmanolide derivative (13b) was isolated as an artifact formed by methanolysis. Compound 1 is the first adduct comprising a sesquiterpene lactone and a methyl jasmonate moiety. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 3-18 were established by comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The absolute configuration for 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Guaianolide 8 was the most potent sesquiterpene lactone, inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway with an IC50 value of 8.9 ± 0.9 μM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Artemisia* / chemistry
  • Lactones* / chemistry
  • Lactones* / isolation & purification
  • Lactones* / pharmacology
  • Melanoma* / enzymology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases* / metabolism
  • Phytochemicals* / chemistry
  • Phytochemicals* / isolation & purification
  • Phytochemicals* / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / isolation & purification
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sesquiterpenes* / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes* / isolation & purification
  • Sesquiterpenes* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Lactones
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Phytochemicals
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents