GAMBOGIC ACID, ANALOGS AND DERIVATIVES AS ACTIVATORS OF CASPASES AND INDUCERS OF APOPTOSIS

摘要

The present invention is directed to gambogic acid, analogs and derivatives thereof, represented by general Formulae (I-III) wherein R1-R5 are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formulae (I-III) are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis . Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditio ns in which uncontrolled cell growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.