Anti-tumour activity of fatty acid maltotriose esters

Abstract

The anti-tumour properties of two fatty acid esters of maltotriose, 6’’-O-lauroylmaltotriose and 6’’-O-palmitoylmaltotriose, in which the 6-OH at the non-reducing end of the maltotriose has been regioselectively acylated, were studied. Both compounds were synthesised by transesterification of vinyl laurate or vinyl palmitate with maltotriose, in presence of immobilized lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. A mixture formed by 2-methyl-2-butanol and dimethylsulfoxide (80:20 v/v) was the reaction medium. Their cytotoxic activities against two human cancer cell lines, Hep-G2 and HeLa, were studied. 6’’-O-palmitoylmaltotriose showed 50% inhibition values (IC50) of 2.3 M (1.7 g/ml) for Hep-G2 and 3.6 M (2.7 g/ml) for HeLa cells, whereas 6’’-O-lauroylmaltotriose displayed a lower inhibitory effect. 6’’-O-palmitoylmaltotriose showed a marginal cytotoxicity to rat hepatocytes, confirming its potential as a new anti-tumour agent.