INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SYNTHESIS AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF 3-SUBSTITUTED ESTERS OF 17-OXO-17a-AZA-D-HOMO-3,5ANDROSTADIEN-3-OIC ACID AS 5α-REDUCTASE INHIBITORS TINA SHARMA*a, SHILPA GARGa, AMANDEEP SINGHb, MANAV MALHOTRAa, T. R. BHARDWAJa RESEACH LAB, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY, ISF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, MOGA, PUNJAB, INDIAa DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, CENTENNIAL COLLEGE, TORONTO, CANADA. b ABSTRACT In this study, we describe the synthesis of 3-substituted esters of 17-Oxo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien3-oic acid 14(a-e) from commercially available 16-Dehydropregnenolone acetate as starting material. Compounds were tested for their 5α-reductase inhibitory activity against prostate cancer cell line PC-3 and compared with Dutasteride as reference drug. The compounds 14d and 14e found to be potent inhibitors against 5α-reductase while 14a exhibited moderate inhibitory activity but the compounds 14b and 14c displayed weak inhibition against prostate cancer cell lines. Keywords: Dutasteride, Prostate cancer, 5α-reductase, PC-3. INTRODUCTION Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign tumor affecting about 60% of men aged over 50 years and after the age of 70, the proportion increases to 80% [1]. It clinically manifests as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which include frequency, hesitancy, urgency, nocturia, slow urinary stream and incomplete emptying [2,3]. Androgens (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) are responsible for male phenotype sexual differentiation and maturation through their actions at the androgen receptor [46]. The corresponding relationship between prostatic growth and elevated prostatic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has been observed in BPH patients [7]. In many androgen sensitive tissues, the nuclear membrane bound enzyme 5αreductase converts the major circulating hormone testosterone (T) to the more potent intracellular 5α-reduced metabolite DHT [8,9]. ____________________________________________________________ CORRESPONDING AUTHOR* MS. TINA SHARMA DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY ISF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, MOGA, PUNJAB, INDIA. E-MAIL: tinasharma996@gmail.com MOBILE: +919888999638 The raised levels of DHT cause pathological conditions like BPH, prostate cancer [10-15], acne [16], hirsutism [17-19] and androgenic alopecia [20, 21]. Study of mechanism of 5α-reductase and its inhibition is an area of biological and pharmaceutical interest as the enzyme catalyzes the irreversible reduction of the C-4-C-5 double bond of 3-oxo-4-ene steroids to their corresponding 5α-3oxo-steroid derivatives, using a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate (NADPH) as cofactor [22, 23]. Although several steroidal and non-steroidal compounds have been reported as 5α-reductase inhibitors during the last two decades [24-27], steroidal compounds have attracted more attention. It has been observed that a conjugate system (sp2-sp2-sp2) must be present together with lipophilic group in the steroidal system. Therefore, remarkable progress has been made in the design and synthesis of steroidal inhibitors by modifying 3, 4-, 5- and 17-position of steroids: the two best known series of compounds are 3-carboxy steroids and 4-azasteroids [28-35]. Finasteride (MK-906) (1) [35, 36] and Dutasteride (GG745) (2) [37] have been approved by United states food and drug administration for the symptomatic treatment of BPH (Fig. 1). These drugs belong to a category of Aring lactam of 3-oxo-4-azasteroids with different ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 9 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ substituents at 17-position. Epristeride (SK & F 105657) (3) belongs to class of carboxysteroids, found to be potent inhibitor of 5α-reductase in clinical trials [38-40]. It is evident from above mentioned drugs that planarity is required in ring A of steroidal nucleus to enter active site of enzyme. The double bond present between C-1 and C-2 in case of finasteride (1) and dutasteride (2) and conjugate double bonds at C-3 and C-5 in epristeride (3) provide the planarity. Therefore, in present work it was envisaged to synthesize epristeride (3) related analogues (Fig. 2) having 3,5-dien-3-oic acid moiety and 3-carboxyl group is further substituted with different aliphatic and aromatic groups to enhance lipophilicity the molecule. Also, compounds contain 17-oxo-17a-azaD-homo lactam in ring D instead of ring A as in finasteride (1). In this communication, we have reported the synthesis of new steroidal 5αreductase inhibitors and their pharmacological evaluation. 2.0. MATERIALS AND METHODS Melting point of the synthesized compounds was determined in an open-glass capillaries on Stuart SMP10 melting point apparatus and were uncorrected. The purity of the compounds was checked by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Silica gel plates kiesel gel 0.25 mm, 60 GF254, precoated sheets obtained from Merck, Darmstadt (Germany) were used for TLC and the spots were visualized by iodine vapors/ultraviolet light as visualizing agent. The IR spectra (υ, cm-1) were obtained with a Perkin-Elmer 1600 FTIR spectrometer in KBr pellets. 1H-NMR spectra (δ, ppm) were recorded in CDCl3 solutions on a Varian-Mercury 300 MHz spectrometer using tetramethylsilane as the internal reference. Mass spectra were recorded on a Shimadzu GCMSQP 1000 EX aparatus. Elemental analyses were performed on an ECS 4010 Elemental Combustion System. The necessary chemicals were purchased from Loba Chemie, Fluka and Sigma Aldrich. 2.1. GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF 3-SUBSTITUTED ESTERS OF 17-OXO-17aAZA-D-HOMO-3,5-ANDROSTADIEN-3-OIC ACID 14(a-e) 2.1.1. 3-Bromo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-17-one (11) 17a-Aza-D-homo-4-androstene-3,17-dione (10) (3.33 g, 9.16mmol) was dissolved in glacial acetic acid (25.0 ml) and 1.61 ml of phosphorus tribromide (4.60 g, 17.0 mmol) was added drop wise to the mixture at room temperature. The dark solution was kept at 8-10 ⁰C for 24 h during which the product got precipitated from the solution. The solid product was filtered and washed with cold glacial acetic acid, followed by cold water (3x 50.0 ml). The product was dried under vacuum to afford 3-Bromo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-17-one (11). Molecular formula: C19H26BrNO, yield: 82.7%, mp: 239-241oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3163 (N-H), 2941 (C-H str), 1681 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C), 637 (C-Br). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 0.96 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.42 (s, 3H, 19-CH3), 1.23-2.22 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 5.43 (s, 1H, 6-vinylic) 6.62 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.15 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 371 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 62.64; H, 7.19; N, 3.84. Found: C, 62.66; H, 7.15; N, 3.86 2.1.2. 3-Cyano-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-17-one (12) 3-Bromo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-17-one (11) (1.08 g, 3.0 mmol) was dissolved in dimethylformamide (25.0ml) and to this solution was added cuprous cyanide (0.27 g, 3.0 mmol). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 5 h and allowed to cool to around 100⁰C and quenched with stirring into a solution of 20.0 ml of concentrated aqueous ammonia and 40.0ml of water. The resulting suspension was extracted twice with 100.0 ml of dichloromethane and organic phase was washed with three 50.0 ml portions of 50/50 v/v concentrated aqueous ammonia/water followed by water. The organic phase was concentrated under vacuum and crystallised from absolute ethanol. The solid product was filtered and dried under vacuum to afford 3-Cyano-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-17-one (12). Molecular formula: C20H26N2O, yield: 51.8%, mp: 288-290oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3163 (N-H), 2941 (C-H str), 2245 (CN str), 1681 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl , δ): 0.96 (s, 3H, 18-CH ), 3 3 1.42(s, 3H, 19-CH3), 1.24-2.28 (m, 17H, steroidal ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 10 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ring), 5.79 (s, 1H, 6- vinylic), 6.62 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.15 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 310 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd, C, 77.38; H, 8.44, N, 9.02. Found: C, 77.31; H, 8.47; N, 9.06. residue obtained was crystallized from acetonehexane to yield 3-substituted esters of 17-Oxo-17aaza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-3-oic acid 14(ae). 2.1.3. 17-Oxo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-3-oic acid (13) 2.2.1. 3-Isopropyloxycarbonyl-17a-aza-D-homo3,5-androstadien-17-one (14a) 3-Cyano-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-17-one (12) (0.31 g, 1.0 mmol) was dissolved in 20.0 ml of absolute alcohol, to the solution 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide (2.0 ml) was added and allowed to reflux for 24 h. The reaction was monitored with the help of TLC, after completion of reaction it was cooled to 500C and to this was added with stirring mixture of 50% hydrochloric acid (5.0 ml) and dichloromethane (50.0 ml). The aqueous phase pH was kept between pH 1.5-2.0. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane (3×50.0 ml), combined organic layers were washed with water and dried. The dichloromethane was removed under vacuum and ethyl acetate (30.0 ml) was added. This was refluxed for 2 h, and then kept at 05 0C. The precipitated compound was filtered and dried under vacuum to afford 17-Oxo-17a-aza-Dhomo-3, 5-androstadien-3-oic acid (13) (0.18 g, 57.6%). Molecular formula: C20H27NO3, yield: 57.6%, mp: 194-196oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3426 (O-H str), 3163 (N-H), 2941 (C-H str), 1714 (C=O str), 1681 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C), 1275 (C-O str). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 0.87(s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.17 (s, 3H, 19CH3), 1.26-2.24 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 5.43 (s, 1H, 6- vinylic), 6.67 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.04 (s, 1H, CONH), 11.34 (s, 1H, COOH). MS (ESI) m/z = 329 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 72.92; H, 8.26; N, 4.25. Found: C, 72.91, H, 8.28, N, 4.24. Molecular formula: C23H33NO3, yield: 74%, mp: 242244oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3326 (NH), 2927 (C-H str), 1720 (C=O str), 1681 (C=O lactam), 1626 (C=C), 1275 (C-O str). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 0.83 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.13 (s, 3H, 19-CH3), 1.15- 1.29 (m, 6H, 2 x CH3), 1.28-2.29 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 3.463.48 (m, 1H, COOCH), 5.35 (s, 1H, 6-vinylic), 6.96 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.41 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 371 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 74.36; H, 8.95; N, 3.77. Found. C, 74.33; H, 8.96; N, 3.79. 2.2. 3-substituted esters of 17-Oxo-17a-aza-Dhomo-3,5-androstadien-3-oic acid 14(a-e) A solution of 17-Oxo-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-3-oic acid (13) (0.1g) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) (0.06 g) in anhydrous dichloromethane (30.0 ml) was stirred to which alcohol/phenol (0.0003 mol) was added. Stirring was continued at room temperature till reaction completion and was confirmed by TLC. The precipitates of dicyclohexylurea (DCU) were filtered and the remaining solvent was removed. The 2.2.2. 3-Butyloxycarbonyl-17a-aza-D-homo-3,5androstadien-17-one (14b) Molecular formula: C24H35NO3, yield: 81%, mp: 264167oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3163 (N-H), 2941 (C-H str), 1730 (C=O str ester), 1681 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C), 1275 (C-O str). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 0.81 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.16 (s, 3H, 19-CH3), 1.07 (t, 3H, 4′ CH3), 1.32-2.25 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 1.431.52 (m, 4H, 2 x CH2), 3.15 (m, 2H, 1′ CH2 ), 5.71(m, 1H, 6-vinylic), 6.76 (s,1H, 4-vinylic), 7.41 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 385 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 74.77; H, 9.15; N, 3.63. Found. C, 74.75; H, 9.19; N, 3.61. 2.2.3. 3-Benzyloxycarbonyl-17a-aza-D-homo3,5-androstadien-17-one (14c) Molecular formula: C27H33NO3, yield: 69.8%, mp: 228-230oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3348 (N-H), 2912 (C-H str), 1729 (C=O str ester), 1691 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C), 1552 (C=C Ar), 1269 (C-O str). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 1.01 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.13 (s, 3H, 19CH3), 1.27-2.26 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 5.27 (s, 2H, CH2), 5.68 (s, 1H, 6-vinylic), 7.01 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.14-7.23 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.41 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 419 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 77.29; H, 7.93; N, 3.34. Found. C, 77.28; H, 7.90; N, 7.97. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 11 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.2.4. 3-(2-Methylphenyloxycarbonyl)-17a-azaD-homo-3,5-androstadien-17-one (14d) Molecular formula: C27H33NO3, yield: 69.4%, mp: 287-289oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3324 (N-H), 2930 (C-H str), 1734 (C=O str ester), 1691 (C=O lactam), 1631 (C=C), 1558 (C=C Ar), 1278 (C-O str). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ): 1.14 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.23-2.29 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 1.52 (s, 3H, 19-CH3), 2.39 (s, 3H, CH3), 5.60 (s, 1H, 6-vinylic), 6.27 (s, 1H, 4vinylic), 6.83-7.19 (m, 4H, Ar-H), 7.41 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 419 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 77.29; H, 7.93; N, 3.34. Found. C, 77.28; H, 7.93; N, 3.35. 2.2.5. 3-(2,4-Dichlorophenyloxycarbonyl)-17aaza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-17-one (14e) Molecular formula: C26H29 Cl2 NO3, yield: 48.9%, mp: 202-204oC. IR (KBr, ѵ cm-1): 3334 (N-H), 2928 (C-H str), 1731 (C=O str ester), 1691 (C=O lactam), 1628 (C=C), 1552 (C=C Ar), 1275 (C-O str), 769 (C-Cl). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, δ) : 0.83 (s, 3H, 18-CH3), 1.13 (s, 3H, 19-CH3), 1.24-2.29 (m, 17H, steroidal ring), 5.34 (s,1H, 6-vinylic), 6.90 (s, 1H, 4-vinylic), 7.08 (d, 2H, 5′ & 6′ Ar-H, J= 7.08 Hz ), 7.25 (s, 1H, 3′ Ar-H), 7.41 (s, 1H, CONH). MS (ESI) m/z = 473 (M+1). Elemental analysis: Calcd. C, 65.82; H, 6.16; N, 2.95. Found. C, 65.86; H, 6.13; N, 2.94. 2.3. Biological evaluation Compounds were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity (Table 1) against PC-3 using Dutasteride as a standard drug. PC-3 cell line was purchased from NCCS, Pune (India). Cell line was maintained in appropriate culture media supplemented with 10% inactivated foetal bovine serum, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100µl/ml streptomycin incubated at 37ºC and 5% CO2 in humidified incubator. After achieving 80% confluence, cells were then subcultured by trypsinization with trypsin solution under sterile condition. The cells were seeded in 96 well plates before 24 h of testing at the concentration of 3000 cells/ well in 100µl of the medium. The cells in triplicate were incubated for overnight and then treated with varying concentration of compounds ranging from 1-100 µm/ ml with dutasteride as standard. After 3 days of incubation, each well was replaced by 2 µl of MTT 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2yl) 2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide solution (5 mg/ml) and kept in an incubator for 3 h. The relative percentage of metabolically active cells and untreated controls was determined on the basis of mitochondrial reduction of MTT to Formazan crystals in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Stock solution and other dilutions (1µM/ml, 10µM/ml, 50µM/ml and 100µM/ml) were prepared in DMSO. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of samples was calculated by measuring their spectrophotometric absorbance with the help of microplate reader (BIORAD) at 570/ 630 nm. IC50 value was calculated for the compounds at different concentrations and all the procedures were carried out thrice. All data was expressed in terms of S.D and mean value. Wherever appropriate, the data was also subjected to unpaired two tailed student’s t test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered as significant. 3.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION For the synthesis of compounds 14(a-e), 17-Oxo17a-aza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-3-oic acid (13) was used as starting material. Compound (13) was synthesized from commercially available 16Dehydrpregnenolone acetate (4) according to literature (Fig. 3) [41-44]. (13) was treated with different alcohols and phenols in dichloromethane containing dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to give desired 3-substituted esters of 17-Oxo-17a-aza-D-homo3,5-androstadien-3-oic acid 14(a-e). Purity of synthesized compounds was checked by different techniques such as TLC, melting point and structures were confirmed by spectral techniques (IR, 1H NMR, and Mass): IR spectra of all compounds 14(a-e) showed absorption band at around 3245-3329, 2895-2985, 1664-1695, 1628-1659, 1598-1648 and 1511-1589 cm-1 regions, conforming the presence of NH, CH, CONH (lactam), CONH, C=C, C=C Ar, respectively. Synthesized derivatives showed 1H NMR spectra which was verified on the basis of chemical shifts, multiplicities and coupling constants. The spectra of most compounds determined the characteristic 3H protons of 18-CH3 at 0.86-1.15 ppm, 3H protons of 19-CH3 at δ 1.14-1.54 ppm, 19H protons of steroidal ring were found at around δ 1.19-2.61 ppm, 1H proton of 3α-H at δ 3.50-3.85 ppm, 1H 4-vinylic proton were at δ 3.73-4.28 ppm, CONH (lactam) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 12 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FIGURE 1: STRUCTURES OF 5α-REDUCTASE INHIBITORS FIGURE 2: PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF COMPOUND(S) TO BE SYNTHESIZED BASED ON EPRISTERIDE AND FINASTERIDE AS 5α-REDUCTASE INHIBITORS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 13 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FIGURE 3: SYNTHESIS OF 3-SUBSTITUTED ESTERS OF 17-OXO-17a-AZA-D-HOMO-3,5-ANDROSTADIEN3-OIC ACID REAGENTS AND CONDITIONS: (I) NH2OH.HCl, PYRIDINE, REFLUX 2 H, 85°C (II) POCl3, PYRIDINE, HCl, STIR 1 H, 0°C (III) NH2OH.HCl, CH3COONa, REFLUX 3 H (IV) SOCl2, BENZENE, STIR 17 MIN, 15°C (V) KOH, CH3OH REFLUX 2 H (VI) Al(O-i-Pr)3, CYCLOHEXANONE, DIOXAN, TOLUENE, REFLUX 5 H (VII) PBr3, GLACIAL CH3COOH AT 0-5O C, 24 H (VIII) CuCn, DMF REFLUX 8 H (IX) NaOH, ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL 24 H, REFLUX (X) DICYCLOHEXYLCARBODIIMIDE, DICHLOROMETHANE, SUBSTITUTED ALCOHOLS/PHENOLS, STIR 48 H, 35°C ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 14 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE 1: IN VITRO ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY AGAINST PC-3a CANCER CELL LINES a Compound R Log Pb IC50 (μM)c 14a isopropyl 3.02 45.434±0.284 14b butyl 3.60 114.022±1.138 14c benzyl 4.09 72.382±0.977 14d 2-methyl phenyl 4.51 29.690±1.767 14e 2,4-dichlorophenyl 5.14 22.327±0.379 Dutasteride - - 37.756±0.935 Human prostate cancer cell lines. b Log P values calculated by Chem Draw Ultra 8 software. c Each value is the mean of three independent experiments. proton were around δ 5.96-7.22 ppm and characteristic proton of CONH found around δ 7.338.59 ppm. The biological evaluation was carried out in vitro against prostate cancer cell line PC-3 by MTT (3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. IC50 values of compounds 14(a-e) obtained are mentioned in the (Table 1) and compared with Dutasteride used as positive control. nature of 2-methyl phenyl substituent at 3-carboxyl group. Comparing enzyme inhibitory activity of compounds (14b) and (14c) with (14a), compound (14a) demonstrated greater inhibition of cell growth. This is due to the fact that butyl and benzyl substituents at 3-carboxyl cause steric hindrance to reach active site of the enzyme. 3.1. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) 5α-reductase enzyme is responsible for BPH in men as it catalyzes the reduction of testosterone to more potent dihydrotestosterone and therefore, it is necessary to suppress its action. In series of analogues of 3-substituted esters of 17-Oxo-17aaza-D-homo-3,5-androstadien-3-oic acid (14a-e) that we have synthesized, compounds with substituents such as 2,4-dichloro phenyl, 2-methyl phenyl and isopropyl linked through ester linkage at C-3 of ring A have shown great activity due to high lipophilicity. On the other hand, substituents that cause steric hindrance resulted in decrease in activity. Thus, we have examined the compounds by alternating size and polarity of C-3 substituents. The results of this study give an idea about the antiproliferative potential of the compounds and that it might be result of the interaction of compound’s electronic, steric and hydrophobic factors with the cell. The synthesized compounds The active site of enzyme is electrophilic which resides in hydrophobic pocket. Therefore, the synthesized compounds contain 6-membered lactam ring D to bind with the active site. The flatness require in steroidal moiety to enter this site is provided by conjugate double bonds at C-3 and C5. The lipophilicity of the molecule is increased by substituting 3-carboxyl group with different aliphatic and aromatic substituent as indicated by log P values calculated by using Chem Draw Ultra 8 software. Compound (14e) with IC50 value (concentration required to cause 50% inhibition in cell growth) of 22.59μM showed an excellent inhibitory potency as compared to dutasteride used as standard due to tight binding of chlorine atoms to cell line. Compound (14d) was also found to be good inhibitor (IC50= 29.42μM) due to hydrophobic 4.0. CONCLUSION ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHARMA ET AL INT J RECENT ADV PHARM RES, 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ISSN: 2230-9306; WWW.IJRAPRONLINE.COM 15 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT ADVANCES IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH APRIL 2015; 5(2): 9-17 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ show mild to an excellent activity against 5αreductase enzyme as compared to standard drug Dutasteride that may possibly prove useful for the treatment of BPH. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to express our gratitude to Shri. Parveen Garg, Chairman, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India for his inspiration and constant support. We deeply acknowledge Ms. Richa Dhingra and Mr. Vivek Sharma, assistant professor, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga for undertaking the pharmacological screening of synthesized compounds. 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