Zidovudine Glycosylation by Filamentous Fungi Leads to a Better Redox Stability and Improved Cytotoxicity in B16F10 Murine Melanoma Cells

Author(s):

Evilanna L. Arruda*, Kamila B. Japiassu, Paula L. de Melo Souza, Kelly C.F. Araújo, Douglas V. Thomaz, Alane P. Cortez, Luane F. Garcia, Marize C. Valadares, Eric de Souza Gil and Valéria de Oliveira   Pages 1688 - 1694 ( 7 )

Abstract:

<P>Background: The strategic development of therapeutic agents, capable of being targeted at their active sites, has been a major goal in treatment of cancer. The delivery of drugs for tumors has as its main challenge the development of safe and effective drugs, since the goal of chemotherapy is to eliminate the tumor completely without affecting healthy cells. The aim of present study was to investigate the antioxidant, anticancer activities of zidovudine and its &#945;-O-glycosylated derivative obtained by biosynthesis of a filamentous fungi, Cunninghamela echinulata. </P><P> Methods: An evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of zidovudine and its &#945;-O-glycosylated was performed in fibroblasts and melanoma cells by the tetrazolium reduction method (MTT) and the antioxidant activity of this derivative was observed. </P><P> Results: The antioxidant activity of zidovudine demonstrated an electrochemical oxidation potential of 0.91V, while the &#945;-O-glycosylated derivative did not exhibit any antioxidant activity. The zidovudine exhibited low cytotoxicity for melanoma and fibroblast cells, while the &#945;-O-glycosylated derivative presented better cytotoxicity on melanoma cells at a concentration of 10mg. mL-1. </P><P> Conclusion: This study demonstrates the specific cytotoxicity of the glycoconjugate and suggests that glycosylation by biosynthesis can be a useful strategy for obtaining new anticancer compounds.</P>

Keywords:

Glycoconjugate, zidovudine, antioxidant, anticancer, biotransformation, Cunninghamella echinulata.

Affiliation:

Laboratorio de Bioconversao, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Bioconversao, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Bioconversao, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Bioconversao, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, , Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Farmacologia e Toxicologia Celular, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Anlises Farmaceuticas e Ambientais, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Farmacologia e Toxicologia Celular, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Anlises Farmaceuticas e Ambientais, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO, Laboratorio de Bioconversao, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias, P.O. Box 131, Goiania, GO

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