Huong Giang Thi Nguyen, Ngoc Vinh Nguyen, Van Anh Vo, Wanjoo Chun, Fadhil S Kamounah, Ole Vang and Poul Erik Hansen
A series of new usnic acid ketamine compounds [1-8] and their oxime analogues [9-12] were synthesized by reacting (+)-usnic acid with various amines and subsequent treatment with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. They were evaluated on the human glioblastoma-astrocytoma cell line (U87MG) by a MTT assay for cell viability in vitro. The ketamine-derivatives (Schiff bases) show significant cytotoxicity on U87MG cells. A novel N-heterocyclic derivative (1,4-diazepine) showed an interesting tautomeric structure and displayed more activity on cancer cell line than (+)-usnic acid itself.
