Lapachol and lapachone analogs: a journey of two decades of patent research(1997-2016)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lapachol (1), β-lapachone (2) and α-lapachone (3) are three well-studied natural products isolated from Tabebuia impetiginosa having most interesting chemodiversity and demonstrating diverse biological effects.

Areas covered: The current review summarizes the recent and past discovery of chemotherapeutic agents based on the compounds 1–3. This review presents an overview of patents filed over the past two decades (1997 to 2016) mostly relating to the anticancer effects of these lapachol and lapachone analogues.

Expert opinion: The large number of interesting patents published on the therapeutic potential of quinones 1–3 and their synthetic derivatives lends credence to the importance of these molecules. Moreover, these quinones demonstrated potent anticancer effects towards various cancer cell lines and chemical modification of these quinones have led to products displaying enhanced anticancer effects. It is noteworthy that the majority of patents published are on the anticancer effects of quinones 1–3 and their synthetic derivatives along with a limited number of additional biological effects. It is our opinion that in order to get lead compounds, there needs to be a greater focus on the elucidation of the precise mechanism of action of these compounds including SAR and in vivo studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Lapachol
• β-Lapachone
• α-lapachone
• anticancer

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Corrigendum

Article highlights

• This review presents therapeutic applications of lapachol (1), β-lapachone (2) and α-lapachone (3) and their synthetic analogs for biological effects.

• lapachol (1), β-lapachone (2) and α-lapachone (3) could be used to prevent and treat various diseases viz., cancer, diabetes, obesity, degenerative diseases, and metabolic syndromes.

• The majority of patents describe anticancer effects and very few patents have been published about other biological properties.

• Experimental data has shown that β-lapachone (2) and α-lapachone (3) and their synthetic analogs are safe and promising anti-cancer agents.

• Chemical modification of lapachones are necessary in order to get lead compounds

• Further pharmaceutical studies on lapachones should focus on the detailed mechanisms of action and increase the bioavailability

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Dedication

Dedicated to Professor Atta-ur-Rahman on the occasion of his 75^th birthday

Additional information

Funding

This paper has not been funded.