Synthesis of diosgenin prodrugs: anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity evaluation

Abstract: In this work, we evaluated the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities of two diosgenin prodrugs. The prodrugs were obtained by esterification of diosgenin at position 3 with 4-oxo-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)butanoic acid followed by click reaction on terminal alkyne with 3-azidopropan-1-ol N-alkylated dendrons, resulting in a prodrug with methyl ester end-groups and a derivative with tert-butyl ester end-groups, hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester derivative afforded a prodrug with carboxylic acid terminals. All compounds were fully characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, ATR-FTIR and HR-ESI TOF. Studies of the anti-inflammatory effects on mouse ear edema of prodrugs methyl ester and carboxylic acid, ended, using diosgenin and dexamethasone as positive controls, showed the superiority of methyl ester ended prodrug with an ED₅₀ four times lower than that of dexamethasone. Further, carboxylic acid ended prodrug was found to be more active than diosgenin as an antiproliferative agent, according to crystal violet assay. Graphic abstract: Diosgenin was transformed to ester and acid prodrugs through succinic ester and a 1,2,3-triazole linkers. The prodrug with methyl ester terminals was four times more active than dexamethasone as anti-inflammatory compound, while prodrug with carboxylic acid terminals improved antiproliferative activity over MCF-7 cells.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].