Molecular complexes of triterpene glycosides with 5-fluorouracil sodium salt: spectral characterization and cytotoxic activity

Interactions of the triterpene glycosides α-hederin (1), hederasaponin C (2), and glycyrrhizic acid (GC) monoammonium salt with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) sodium salt were studied by electronic, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. The complete assignment of signals in the ¹³C and ¹⁹F NMR spectra in DMSO-d₆ for individual compounds and their complexes in equimolar ratios was performed. The obtained spectral data indicate the formation of complexes. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized complexes was evaluated in cancer cell lines (SH-SY5Y, MCF-7, HepG2) and conditionally normal cells (HEK293). The complexes 2—5FU and GC—5FU were found to have high activity only against the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. Compared to glycoside 1, the complex 1—5FU exhibited more pronounced activity and high selectivity against the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line and the MCF-7 breast ductal adenocarcinoma cell line comparable with the corresponding characteristics of the reference compound doxorubicin.