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Even though early man did not know the nature of coloring matter in flowers, he used the coloring matter as dye for centuries. There are a variety of reasons for the interest of chemists in natural and artificial coloring matters. One of these is the color pleasure, anothe1· is the commercial importance. The visible color facilitates the experimental work in the search for methods if separation, purification and determination of organic structures. Search for the knowledge of coloring matter goes far back in history. Man has dyed his textiles with the help of mordants from the most ancient times up to the time of Perkin's discovery of mauve. Then a new era in dyestuff chemistry commenced. In the first half of the nineteenth century with the rise and development of the study of Organic chemistry much attention was directed to the extraction and characterization of pure coloring matters from natural sources .... usually the bark, leaves, fruits. or sap of trees or plants. During the twentieth century -- and just a little before that--great progress has been made in the synthesis of many typical natural coloring matters and the improved technique and novel synthetical methods which will bear upon the general progress of chemistry. This research was done with the purpose of isolating and identifying the coloring matter in the flowers of Vinca Major, with the common name of periwinkle. This was done by extracting the pigment of the flowers with methanol, amyl alcohol, and crystallizing the pigment as a chloride. For this pigment, solubility, color reactions, spectra and other physical properties were obtained.

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology and toxicology Student: Lucie Rozkydalová Supervisor of Diploma thesis: Prof. PharmDr. František Štaud, PhD. Specialized supervisor: Pr. Pierre Cuq PharmD. PhD., Laure-Anaïs Vincent Title of diploma thesis: Differential resistance of melanoma to vinca-alkaloids Malignant melanoma (MM) represents the most dangerous and very aggressive skin tumor with fast development of drug resistance which is the main obstacle in successful treatment of MM. According to previous studies (microarray data analysis), KIT gene, which plays key role in melanoma pathophysiology, was chosen as one of the potential causes of failure of treatment by vinca alkaloids (VAs) because of its complete underexpression in melanoma CAL1 resistant cells (CAL1R-VAs) in comparison with parental cells (CAL1-wt). Moreover, KIT also interacted with NF-κB and cyclin D1-2 proteins involved in chemoresistance of melanoma - inside molecular network built using IPA software. Although KIT underexpression in resistant CAL1 R-VAs cell lines were confirmed (qRTPCR), KIT repression using specific siRNA transfection did not show any effect on in vitro sensibility of CAL1-wt cells to VAs. It signifies that KIT is not directly involved in melanoma resistance...

Le mélanome malin (MM) métastatique, un des cancers les plus intrinsèquement résistants aux agents anti-cancéreux et présentant une forte capacité à développer des résistances acquises, constitue un défi thérapeutique. La meilleure compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans cette chimiorésistance permettrait d'identifier des cibles thérapeutiques ou de guider le choix du traitement pour une meilleure efficacité. Les travaux réalisés durant cette thèse se sont focalisés sur l'identification de nouveaux déterminants moléculaires de la résistance acquise du MM vis-à-vis (i) des vinca-alcaloïdes (VAs, chimiothérapie classique), (ii) des inhibiteurs de MAP kinases (iMAPK, thérapie ciblée). Pour la première étude, un modèle de lignées cellulaires de MM résistantes aux VAs (CAL1R-VAs) a été établi (exposition continue, 12 mois, de la lignée parentale CAL1-wt à la VCR, la VDS ou la VRB : CAL1R-VCR, CAL1R-VDS et CAL1R-VRB respectivement). La comparaison des profils d'expression a permis de distinguer deux groupes de lignées cellulaires (CAL1R-VCR et CAL1R-VDS ; CAL1R-VRB et CAL1-wt), suggérant une résistance différentielle du MM aux VAs : d'une part à la VCR et à la VDS, d'autre part à la VRB. L'analyse des données transcriptomiques par une démarche associant successivement trois méthodes - RMA (Robust Multi-array Average), RDAM (Rank Difference Analysis of Microarrays) et MGSA (model-based gene set analysis) – a permis d'identifier des fonctions cellulaires altérées lors de la sélection des lignées CAL1R-VAs, et donc potentiellement à l'origine de la résistance de ces lignées. Des analyses fonctionnelles in vitro ont permis de confirmer l'implication des lysosomes et de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans la résistance différentielle des cellules CAL1 aux VAs. Ainsi, une sous-expression des cathepsines B et L (bioinformatique) et une réduction du volume du compartiment acide (in vitro) ont été observées spécifiquement dans le premier groupe de lignées (CAL1R-VCR et CAL1R-VDS), suggérant une sensibilité réduite de ces lignées à la voie lysosomale de l'apoptose. Par ailleurs, l'inhibition de la voie de réponse au stress du RE par l'acide tauroursodésoxycholique (TUDCA) a induit une sensibilisation différentielle de l'ensemble des lignées CAL1 aux VAs, suggérant l'implication de cette voie dans la résistance différentielle primaire et acquise aux VAs. De plus, l'inhibition de la réponse au stress du RE a induit une sensibilisation d'une autre lignée cellulaire de MM, MDA-MB-435, à la VCR et à la VDS mais pas à la VRB. Ainsi, la voie de réponse au stress du RE semble impliquée dans la résistance différentielle du MM aux VAs. Ce mécanisme pourrait mettre en jeu l'autophagie, dont le flux était significativement augmenté dans le premier groupe de lignées. La même démarche d'analyse transcriptomique a été appliquée pour l'étude des mécanismes moléculaires de résistance acquise du MM aux iMAPK. Des lignées cellulaires de MM résistantes aux trois iMAPK majeurs ont été établies par exposition continue de la lignée parentale A375-wt, portant la mutation activatrice BRAF V600E, au vémurafenib (VMF, inhibiteur de BRAF), dabrafenib (DBF, inhibiteur de BRAF), et trametinib (TMT, inhibiteur de MEK): A375R-VMF, A375R-DBF et A375R-TMT respectivement. La comparaison des profils transcriptomiques n'a pas permis de regrouper les lignées résistantes entre elles, suggérant que les mécanismes de résistance au VMF, au DBF ou au TMT sont différents. Ces mécanismes ne seraient donc communs ni à la voie ciblée (MAPK), ni à la cible moléculaire (BRAF ou MEK). L'identification des fonctions cellulaires altérées procurera un rationnel pour l'étude mécanistique de nouveaux déterminants de la résistance du MM aux iMAPK. / Malignant melanoma (MM), one of the most intrinsically resistant cancers to anticancer agents and presenting a strong ability to develop acquired resistance, remains a therapeutic challenge. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in MM chemoresistance should provide therapeutic targets or guide therapeutic choice for improved efficiency. This thesis has focused on the identification of new molecular determinants of MM acquired resistance to (i) vinca alkaloids (VAs, conventional chemotherapy), and to (ii) MAP kinases inhibitors (MAPKi, targeted therapy). In the first study, MM cell lines resistant to VAs (CAL1R-VAs) were established (continuous exposure, 12 months, of CAL.1-wt parental line to the VCR, VDS or VRB: CAL1R-VCR, CAL1R- VDS and CAL1R-VRB respectively). Comparison of expression patterns led to distinguish two groups of cell lines (CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS; CAL1R-VRB and CAL.1-wt), suggesting a differential resistance of MM to VAs: one the one hand to VCR and VDS, on the other hand to VRB only. The analysis of transcriptome data by a process involving successively three methods - RMA (Robust Multi-array Average), RDAM (Rank Difference Analysis of Microarrays) and MGSA (model-based gene set analysis) – allowed the identification of functions altered during the resistant cell line selection, and therefore potentially involved in resistance mechanisms of these cell lines. In vitro functional analyzes confirmed the involvement of the lysosomes and of the response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (unfolded protein response, UPR) in the differential resistance of CAL1 cells to VAs. Thus, an under-expression of cathepsins B and L (bioinformatics), and a reduction of the acidic compartment volume (in vitro) were specifically observed in the first cell group (CAL1R-VCR and CAL1R-VDS), suggesting a reduced sensitivity of these lines to the lysosomal pathway of apoptosis. Furthermore, UPR inhibition using tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) induced a differential sensitization of all the CAL1 lines to VAs, suggesting the involvement of this pathway in the primary and acquired differential resistance to VAs. Moreover, TUDCA-inhibition of UPR induced sensitization another MM cell line, MDA-MB-435, to VCR and VDS but not to VRB. Thus, a UPR up-regulation could to be a significant mechanism of differential resistance of MM to VAs. This mechanism could involve autophagy, whose flow was significantly increased in the first group of lines. The same transcriptome analysis strategy was applied to study (ii) the molecular mechanisms of MM acquired resistance to MAPKi. MM cell lines resistant to the three major MAPKi were established by continuous exposure of the parental A375-wt line, carrying the activating mutation BRAF V600E, to vemurafenib (VMF, BRAF inhibitor), dabrafenib (DBF, BRAF inhibitor), or trametinib (TMT, MEK inhibitor): A375R-VMF, A375R-DBF and A375R-TMT, respectively. Comparison of transcriptomic profiles showed separate expression profiles, suggesting that the molecular mechanisms responsible for resistance to VMF, DBF or TMT were different. These mechanisms cannot therefore be common to the targeted pathway (MAPK) or to the molecular target (BRAF or MEK). The identification of the altered cellular functions will provide a rationale for mechanistic studies of new determinants of MM resistance to MAPKi.

La tubuline est une protéine essentielle de la cellule. En polymérisant sous forme de microtubules, elle crée notamment le fuseau mitotique le long duquel migrent les chromosomes pendant la mitose. Les médicaments qui inhibent la polymérisation et/ou la dépolymérisation de la tubuline sont des composés majeurs de la thérapie anticancéreuse. Les vinca-alcaloïdes en sont des représentants importants. Ils induisent la mort des cellules par apoptose, en inhibant la dynamique des microtubules. D’autres molécules d’origine naturelle, comme la phomopsine A, se fixent sur la tubuline à proximité ou dans le même site de fixation que celui des vinca-alcaloïdes. C’est la raison pour laquelle nous avons envisagé d’élaborer des composés antimitotiques hybrides entre la vinblastine et la phomopsine A. Dans ce contexte, deux séries de composés ont été conçues. La première série d’hybrides correspondant à des dérivés de l’anhydrovinblastine fonctionnalisés en position 7’. Cependant, aucune des trois stratégies étudiées n’a permis d’accéder à ces composés. La deuxième série d’hybrides, dérivés de la 7’-homo-anhydrovinblastine a pu être synthétisée grâce à une réaction originale d’insertion d’acétylènes activés au niveau du pont gramine de la vinorelbine, suivie d’une réduction avec un contrôle totale de la régio- et stéréoselectivité. Dans un premier temps, les réactions d’insertion et de réduction ont été mise au point. Ensuite, deux familles d’hybrides portant la chaîne latérale de l’octahydrophomopsine en position 8’ ou 7’ ont été synthétisés. La plupart des composés ainsi obtenus possédent une excellente activité sur la tubuline et sont très cytotoxique. / Tubulin plays a key role in many cellular functions, like cell division. Microtubules, resulting from its polymerisation, form the mitotic spindle along which chromosomes migrate during mitosis. Tubulin-binding molecules are one of the most important classes of anti-cancer agents with major drugs already on the market and many promising compounds in clinical trials. Vinca-alkaloids are one of these antimitotic drugs inhibiting microtubules dynamics. It was shown that the vinca binding site partially overlaps with that of others natural products, like phomopsin A. In order to explore the vinca domain and to elaborate new acute derivatives, we have elaborated antimitotic vinblastine-phomopsin hybrids. We were interested in the synthesis of two series of hybrids. The first, corresponding to 7’-anhydrovinblastine derivatives could not be obtained. None of the three studied strategies lead to desired compounds. The second series of hybrids, corresponding to functionnalized 7’-homo-anhydrovinblastine derivatives, could be synthetised by an original and regioselective insertion reaction, followed by a stereoselective reduction. Firstly, the isertion reaction was studied using different activated acetylenes. Then, two different families of hybrids were obtained, thanks to the selective insertion of the octahydrophomopsin lateral chain in position 8’ or 7’. Almost all the compounds were highly active on tubulin and very cytotoxic.

Thesis (doctoral)--University of Copenhagen, 1981. / Bibliography: p. 47-64.

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical botany Candidate: Anežka Klátilová Supervisor: doc. Ing. Lucie Cahlíková Ph. D. Title of diploma thesis: Alcaloids of Vinca minor (Apocynaceae) and their biological activities The aim of this diploma thesis was to process the assigned fraction isolated from the Vinca minor L. plant and to isolate at least one alkaloid to test its biological activity. Using preparative TLC, the alkaloid was sequentially isolated from the fraction, which was then subjected to a structural analysis. NMR and EI-MS methods were used herein. Thanks to these analyzes, the alkaloid was identified as venoterpine. Furthermore, the alkaloid was prepared to test for biological activity. Thus, the isolated alkaloid was identified as venoterpine and tested for biological activity. The observed inhibitory concentration (IC50) to HuAChE and HuBuChe was more than 500 μM, indicating that venoterpine does not rank as a significant inhibitor of cholinesterase. Likewise, the value of cytotoxic activity, when this activity was found to be greater than 10 μM to colorectal cancer cells as well as to healthy cells, is not significant. Key words: Vinca minor, Apocynaceae, alkaloids, biological activities

Les travaux réalisés pendant cette thèse ont porté sur deux thématiques indépendantes.Les deux premières parties concernent la thématique « alcaloïdes de Vinca », molécules d’origine naturelle aux propriétés anticancéreuses. Les travaux ont tout d’abord porté sur la synthèse d’analogues oxygénés de la 20,20-difluorocatharanthine, comme précurseurs d’alcaloïdes dimères originaux de Vinca. Bien que les voies de synthèses explorées n’aient pas conduit aux dérivés oxygénés souhaités, les différents résultats obtenus ont cependant permis de montrer que la présence du groupement gem-difluoré sur le squelette de la catharanthine changeait dramatiquement la réactivité du substrat de manière imprévisible. La deuxième partie de ce travail a été dédiée à l’élucidation du mécanisme de fluoration d’alcaloïdes dimères de Vinca en milieu superacide. Le marquage isotopique au deutérium a permis de discriminer deux hypothèses mécanistiques et de valider le mécanisme de fluoration passant par une migration 1,2 d’hydrure dont la contribution minimale est de 20 %. Enfin, la troisième partie de ce travail a été consacrée à la synthèse asymétrique de la (R)-méquitazine. La synthèse de cette dernière s’est basée sur la chiralité déjà « imprimée » dans le squelette d’alcaloïdes de cinchona. La synthèse de la (R)-méquitazine dont les excès énantiomériques finaux sont supérieurs à 99% a été conclue en 8 étapes à partir de la quinine, confirmant le contrôle total du centre asymétrique tout au long de la synthèse. / The work carried out during this thesis has focused on two independent parts.The first two sections have dealt with the “Vinca alkaloids” part, natural products with anticancer properties. Firstly, the work has focused on the synthesis of oxygenated analogs of the 20,20-difluorocatharanthine as precursors of original dimeric Vinca alkaloid. Although explored synthesis pathways have not led to the desired oxygenated derivatives, different results has enabled to show that the presence of the gem-difluoro groupment on catharanthine skeleton dramatically changed the reactivity of the substrate in an unpredictable manner. The second part of this work was dedicated to the elucidation of the mechanism of fluorination of alkaloids dimers of Vinca in superacid medium. Isotopic labelling with deuterium has allowed to discriminate two mechanistic hypotheses and to validate the mechanism of fluoridation via a 1,2-hydride migration whose minimum contribution is 20 %.Finally, the third part of this work has been devoted to the asymmetric synthesis of (R)- mequitazine. The synthesis is based on the chirality already "printed" into the skeleton of cinchona alkaloids. Synthesis of (R)-mequitazine with greater than 99% final enantiomeric excess was reached in 8 steps from quinine, confirming full control of the asymmetrical centre during the synthesis.

Bouz L.: Biological activity of secondary plants metabolites V. Alkaloids of Vinca minor L. Diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Ecology, Hradec Králové 2016. Summary extract obtained from dried aerial parts of Vinca minor L. was separated by column chromatography with petrol, chloroform and ethanol to 531 fractions. By further separation of fractions, following preparative thin layer chromatography and crystallization 2 alkaloidal compounds marked LB-2 and LB-3 were isolated. These compounds were identified by GC/MS, 1 H- and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy and by use of physical-chemical methods. The structure of compounds were elucidated as indole alkaloids (+)-vincaminoreine (LB-2) and (+)-vincamine (LB-3). Both substances were tested for their inhibition activity against human cholinesterases. (+)-Vincamine didn't exhibited in comparison with standard drugs (galanthamine IC50 AChE: 1,710 ± 0,065 µM, IC50 BChE: 42,30 ± 1,30 µM; huperzine A IC50 AChE: 0,033 ± 0,001 µM) any inhibition activity. On the other hand (+)-vincaminoreine exhibited fairly strong selective inhibition of BChE (IC50 = 8,71 ± 0,49 µM) with no inhibition of AChE. Key words: Vinca minor L., indole alkaloids, vincamine, vincaminoreine, Alzheimer disease,...

Vítovcová, A.: Biological activity of secondary plants metabolites IV. Alkaloids of Vinca minor L. Diploma thesis, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Ecology, Hradec Králové 2016. Extract of Vinca minor L. was separated to fractions in column chromatography. Flash chromatography, preparative TLC and crystalisation led to isolation of two alkaloids from fraction number two and number five. Alkaloids were identified by GC/MS as (+)-vincaminorine and vincorine. These alkaloids were tested for their inhibition activity towards cholinesterase (AChE and BuChe). Obtained activities IC50 were compared with standards (galanthamine, huperzine A). The most interesting activity against galanthamine (AChE 1,710 ± 0,065 µM, BuChE 42,30 ± 1,30 µM) and huperzine A (AChE 0,033 ± 0,001 µM, BuChE > 1000 µM) showed vincorine (AChE > 1000 µM, BuChE 9,75 ± 0,45 µM). His activity toward BuChE is higher than the activity of both standards. Inhibition activities of (+)-vincaminorine (AChE 746,5 ± 84,13 µM, BuChE 684,32 ± 70,66 µM) are negligible. Key words: Alzheimerʼs disease, cholinesterase, Apocynaceae, Vinca minor L., indole alkaloids