Artemisinin derivatives with antimelanoma activity show inhibitory effect against human dna topoisomerase 1
Artesunic acid and artemisinin are natural substances with promiscuous anticancer activity against different types of
cancer cell lines. The mechanism of action of these compounds is associated with the formation of reactive radical species by
cleavage of the sesquiterpene pharmacophore endoperoxide bridge. Here we suggested topoisomerase 1 as a possible molecular
target for the improvement of the anticancer activity of these compounds. In this context, we report that novel hybrid and dimer
derivatives of artesunic acid and artemisinin, bearing camptothecin and SN38 as side-chain biological effectors, can inhibit growth of
yeast cells overexpressing human topoisomerase 1 and its enzymatic activity in vitro. These derivatives showed also anticancer
activity in melanoma cell lines higher than camptothecin and paclitaxel. In silico molecular docking calculations highlighted a
common binding mode for the novel derivatives, with the sesquiterpene lactone scaffold being located near the traditional
recognition site for camptothecin, while the bioactive side-chain effector laid in the camptothecin cleft.