Synthesis and evaluation of anti-plasmodial and cytotoxic activities of epoxyazadiradione derivatives

Epoxyazadiradione (1), a major compound derived from Neem oil, showed modest anti-plasmodial activity against CQ-resistant and CQ-sensitive strains of the most virulent human malaria parasite P. falciparum. A series of analogues were synthesized by modification of the key structural moieties of this high yield natural product. Out of the library of all compounds tested, compounds 3c and 3g have showed modest anti-plasmodial activity against CQ-sensitive (IC_{50} 2.8 ± 0.29 μM and 1.5 ± 0.01 μM) and CQ-resistant strains (IC_{50} 1.3 ± 1.08 μM and 1.2 ± 0.14), while compounds 3k, 3l and 3m showed modest activity against CQ-sensitive strain of P. falciparum with IC_{50} values of 2.3 ± 0.4 μM, 2.9 ± 0.1 μM and 1.7 ± 0.06 μM, respectively. Additionally, cytotoxic properties of these derivatives against SIHA, PANC 1, MDA-MB-231, and IMR-3 cancer cell lines were also studied and the results indicated that low cytotoxic potentials of all the derivatives which indicating the high selectivity index of the compounds.