Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities of Newly Synthesized Hesperetin Derivatives.

Hesperetin is a class of natural products with a wide range of sources and remarkable biological activities. In this study, we described the synthesis of a series of novel hesperetin derivatives and evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and antitumor activity of these compounds. Eleven novel compounds were synthesized in moderate yields. The compounds synthesized in this work exhibited antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Among them, compound 3f had the best antioxidant activity, with IC50 of 1.2 µM and 24 µM for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. The antitumor activity of the compounds against human cancer cell lines, such as breast MCF-7, liver HepG2, and cervical Hela, was determined by a standard 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Three compounds had moderate IC50 values. Interestingly, compound 3f had better biological activity than hesperetin, which matches the prediction by Maestro from Schrödinger. Therefore, the new hesperidin derivative is a promising drug for the treatment of cancer due to its effective antitumor activity. The results also suggested that the antitumor activities of hesperetin derivatives may be related to their antioxidant activities.

Discovery of 7-O-1, 2, 3-triazole hesperetin derivatives as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer's disease.

The development of multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) may improve complex central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, a series of 7-O-1, 2, 3-triazole hesperetin derivatives was evaluated for their inhibition of cholinesterase, anti-neuroinflammatory, and neuroprotective activity. Among the hesperetin derivatives, compound a8 (7-O-((1-(3-chlorobenzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)hesperetin) possessed excellent anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (IC50 = 3.08 ± 0.29 µM) and exhibited good anti-neuroinflammatory activity (IC50 = 2.91 ± 0.47 µM) against NO production through remarkably blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting the phosphorylation of P65. In addition, a8 showed a remarkable neuroprotective effect and lacked neurotoxicity up to 50 µM concentration. Furthermore, possessing significant self-mediated Aß1-42 aggregation inhibitory activity, chelated biometals and reduced ROS production were found in compound a8. In the bi-directional transport assay, a8 exhibited a blood-brain barrier penetrating ability. In this study, the Morris water maze task showed that compound a8 significantly improved the learning and memory impairment of the scopolamine-induced AD mice model. Results highlighted the potential of compound a8 to be a potential MTDL for the development of anti-AD agents.

Evaluation of hesperetin-loaded on multiple wall carbon nanotubes on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

The present study aimed to develop novel hesperetin-loaded on multiple wall carbon nanotubes (Hst-MWCNTs) to resolve the restricted bioavailability of hesperetin (Hst) and to enhance its preventive effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). The physicochemical characteristics of Hst-MWCNTs were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (control, I/R, MWCNTs, Hst, and Hst-MWCNTs). Hst, MWCNTs and Hst-MWCNTs (15 mg/kg orally) were pretreated for 14 days, and then I/R was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Learning and memory deficits were evaluated using the novel object recognition test (NORT). The percentage of infarct size, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GRx), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels was evaluated. Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expressions were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Compared to the I/R group, Hst-MWCNTs considerably reduced learning and memory deficits, infarct size, and MDA levels. CAT, SOD, GRx, GPx activities and GSH levels were significantly increased in the Hst-MWCNTs group than in the I/R group. Additionally, Hst-MWCNTs significantly reduced the Caspase-3 expression but increased the Bcl-2 expression. All these results indicated that MWCNTs could be used as a promising novel carrier to enhance the oral bioavailability of Hst and to treat cerebral I/R injury.

Design and synthesis of 7-O-1,2,3-triazole hesperetin derivatives to relieve inflammation of acute liver injury in mice.

Based on the previous research results of our research group, to further improve the anti-inflammatory activity of hesperetin, we substituted triazole at the 7-OH branch of hesperetin. We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of 39 new hesperetin derivatives. All compounds showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Compound d5 showed a strong inhibitory effect on NO (half maximal inhibitory concentration = 2.34 ± 0.7 µM) and tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and (IL-6). Structure-activity relationships indicate that 7-O-triazole is buried in a medium-sized hydrophobic cavity that binds to the receptor. Compound d5 can also reduce the reactive oxygen species production and significantly inhibit the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 through the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. In vivo results indicate that d5 can reduce liver inflammation in mice with acute liver injury (ALI) induced by CCI4. In conclusion, d5 may be a candidate drug for treating inflammation associated with ALI.

Design, Synthesis and Investigation of the Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 7-O-Amide Hesperetin Derivatives.

To develop new anti-inflammatory agents, a series of 7-O-amide hesperetin derivatives was designed, synthesized and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using RAW264.7 cells. All compounds showed inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production. Among them, 7-O-(2-(Propylamino)-2-oxoethyl)hesperetin (4d) and 7-O-(2-(Cyclopentylamino)-2-oxoethyl)hesperetin (4k) with hydrophobic side chains exhibited the most potent NO inhibitory activity (IC50 = 19.32 and 16.63 µM, respectively), showing stronger inhibitory effect on the production of pro- inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) than indomethacin and celecoxib at 10 µM. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) suggested that the 7-O-amide unit was buried in a medium-sized hydrophobic cavity of the bound receptor. Furthermore, compound 4d could also significantly suppress the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase enzymes (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), through the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

Synthesis of Daidzein Glycosides, α-Tocopherol Glycosides, Hesperetin Glycosides by Bioconversion and Their Potential for Anti-Allergic Functional-Foods and Cosmetics.

Daidzein is a common isoflavone, having multiple biological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, and anti-aging. α-Tocopherol is the tocopherol isoform with the highest vitamin E activity including anti-allergic activity and anti-cancer activity. Hesperetin is a flavone, which shows potent anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds have shortcomings, i.e., water-insolubility and poor absorption after oral administration. The glycosylation of bioactive compounds can enhance their water-solubility, physicochemical stability, intestinal absorption, and biological half-life, and improve their bio- and pharmacological properties. They were transformed by cultured Nicotiana tabacum cells to 7-ß-glucoside and 7-ß-gentiobioside of daidzein, and 3'- and 7-ß-glucosides, 3',7-ß-diglucoside, and 7-ß-gentiobioside of hesperetin. Daidzein and α-tocopherol were glycosylated by galactosylation with ß-glucosidase to give 4'- and 7-ß-galactosides of daidzein, which were new compounds, and α-tocopherol 6-ß-galactoside. These nine glycosides showed higher anti-allergic activity, i.e., inhibitory activity toward histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, than their respective aglycones. In addition, these glycosides showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity than the corresponding aglycones. Glycosylation of daidzein, α-tocopherol, and hesperetin greatly improved their biological activities.

Mechanistic approach towards interaction of newly synthesized Hesperidin derivatives against xanthine oxidase.

Xanthine oxidase is an important enzyme of purine catabolism pathway and has been associated directly in pathogenesis of gout and indirectly in many pathological conditions like cancer, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this research Hesperidin, a bioactive flavonoid was explored to determine the capability of itself and its derivatives to inhibit xanthine oxidase. The design and synthesis of Hesperidin derivatives hybridized with hydrazines to form hydrazides and anilines was performed with the help of molecular docking. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential. The enzyme kinetic studies performed on newly synthesized derivatives showed a potential inhibitory effect on XO ability in competitive manner with IC50 value ranging from 00.263 µM - 14.870 µM and 3HDa1 was revealed as most active derivative. Molecular simulation revealed that new Hesperidin derivatives interacted with the amino acid residues PHE798, GLN1194, ARG912, THR585, SER1080 and MET1038 positioned inside the binding site of XO. Results of antioxidant activity revealed that all the derivatives showed very good antioxidant potential. Taking advantage of molecular docking, this hybridization of two natural constituent could lead to desirable xanthine oxidase inhibitors with improved activity.

Solid Dispersion of Hesperetin Co-crystals Synergistically Attenuates Hepatic Toxicity of Carbon Tetrachloride Oxidative Stress in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Hesperetin (HSP) is a low water-soluble flavanone aglycone with low bioavailability. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at enhancing the hepatoprotective effects of HSP by a combinatory technique based on solid dispersions of co-crystals of HSP. METHODS: Co-crystals were prepared using citric acid, tartaric acid, caffeine and isonicotinamide (INM) using two methods of solvent evaporation and co-grinding. The solid dispersion of co-crystals with different ratio of INM, PVP K30 and drug was prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The resulting material was characterized by DSC, XRD, FTIR and SEM, their saturated solubility and dissolution rate were compared to the pure drug. Finally, liver toxicity was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and mice were treated with different formulations of HSP. The liver function was tested by measurement of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin as well as histopathological tests. RESULTS: Although saturation solubility of HSP was enhanced about 5 times by co-crystals of HSP/INM (1:2), solid dispersions of the co-crystals of HSP obtained from PVP K30 and INM enhanced it up to 200 folds. Functional parameters of liver in rats pretreated with a solid dispersion of co-crystals of HSP were significantly lower than those with pure HSP and co-crystals of INM/HSP with 2:1 ratio. Furthermore, this formulations reduced liver damage effectively compared with the CCL4 group. CONCLUSION: Solid dispersion of HSP co-crystals synergistically attenuates hepatic toxicity of carbon tetrachloride oxidative stress in rats more effectively than its solid dispersions or co-crystals alone.

Design, synthesis and investigation of potential anti-inflammatory activity of O-alkyl and O-benzyl hesperetin derivatives.

Hesperetin has been known to exert several activities such as anti-oxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory. To find hesperetin derivatives showing better activity, sixteen novel hesperetin derivatives were designed and synthesized. The new obtained compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and production of nitric oxide (NO) in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages, and the structure-activity relationship of them was discussed. Among them, the compound 1l, 2c demonstrated more effective inhibitory activity of IL-1ß and IL-6, meanwhile, the compound 1l showed the best inhibition of NO production. The results of NO inhibition study were basically accord with the molecular docking results of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and components of NF-κB signaling pathway were reduced by compound 1l. Our results suggest that the inhibitory effect of compound 1l on LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediator production in RAW 264.7 cells is associated with the suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibition of iNOS protein and iNOS activity. From in vivo study, it was also observed that compound 1l had hepato-protective and anti-inflammatory effects in CCl4-induced acute liver injury mouse models.

Microfluidic reactor for lipase-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of neohesperidin ester derivatives and their antimicrobial activity research.

Lipase-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of neohesperidin ester derivatives was performed by Lipase TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus in a continuous-flow microreactor and then their antimicrobial activity was studied. It appears that neohesperidin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone with primary OH on the sugar part is the most reactive substrate. Various reaction parameters were investigated including substrate molar ratio, reaction time and temperature. Maximum conversion (92%) was obtained under the optimal condition of substrate molar ratio of 8:1 (vinyl esters: neohesperidin) at 52 °C for about 35 min. Then, the antibacterial activity of modified neohesperidin ester derivatives was examined and showed great improvement against gram negative and gram positive bacteria.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of hesperetin derivatives as potent anti-inflammatory agent.

A flavonoid hesperetin is reported to have a variety of biological activities, including anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Thirty-one novel hesperetin derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using RAW264.7 cells and CCl4-induced acute liver injury model. Among these compounds, 5b displayed the excellent anti-inflammatory activity on decreasing NO, IL-6 and TNF-α both in vitro and vivo. In addition, 5b could also reduce the release of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α production by LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cell through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway in a concentration dependent manner. From in vivo study, it was also observed that 5b attenuated liver histopathologic changes in mouse models.

Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Hesperetin Derivatives as Potential Multifunctional Anti-Alzheimer Agents.

In this study we designed and synthesized a series of new hesperetin derivatives on the basis of the structural characteristics of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) dual-site inhibitors. The activity of the novel derivatives was also evaluated. Results showed that the synthesized hesperetin derivatives displayed stronger inhibitory activity against AChE and higher selectivity than butyrylcholine esterase (BuChE) (selectivity index values from 68 to 305). The Lineweaver-Burk plot and molecular docking study showed that these compounds targeted both the peripheral anionic site (PAS) and catalytic active site (CAS) of AChE. The derivatives also showed a potent self-induced ß-amyloid (Aß) aggregation inhibition and a peroxyl radical absorbance activity. Moreover, compound 4f significantly protected PC12 neurons against H2O2-induced cell death at low concentrations. Cytotoxicity assay showed that the low concentration of the derivatives does not affect the viability of the SH-SY5Y neurons. Thus, these hesperetin derivatives are potential multifunctional agents for further development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of hesperetin derivatives as agents inducing apoptosis.

A flavanone, hesperetin, has been known to exert antitumor activity by inducing apoptosis. To find hesperetin derivatives showing better antitumor activity, 12 derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their antitumor activities were measured using a long-term survival clonogenic assay. Among the compounds, K-5b, hesperetin-7-butyrate, showed the half-maximal cell growth inhibitory concentration three times as low as that of hesperetin. To compare the cytotoxicity of hesperetin and K-5b, the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line was treated with various concentrations of each compound. K-5b decreased the cell viability to a larger extent than hesperetin and triggered apoptosis more efficiently than hesperetin in an apoptosis detection assay using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled annexin V. Immunoblotting analysis showed that K-5b promoted caspase-mediated apoptosis more efficiently than hesperetin. Because hesperetin has been reported to induce apoptosis through the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, we tested whether K-5b activates JNKs. K-5b stimulated JNK1 and JNK2 more efficiently than hesperetin as shown by western blot analysis. In conclusion, hesperetin derivatives exerting better antitumor activity than hesperetin by inducing apoptosis were found.

Hesperetin derivatives: Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity.

Sixteen novel hesperetin derivatives containing Mannich base moiety were designed and synthesized and their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. Compounds 3a-3k showed better hydrophilic, while compounds 3l-3p with aromatic groups was hydrophobic. The anti-inflammatory activity of title compounds was correlated with logP values, among them, compounds 3c, 3e and 3i with minus logP values exhibited best anti-inflammatory activity through decreasing both IL-6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, the expression of LPS-induced notch1 and inos was reduced by compounds 3c, 3e, and 3i, and compound 3e attenuated LPS-induced inos protein levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Mechanism of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) transactivation by hesperetin glucuronides is distinct from that by a thiazolidine-2,4-dione agent.

Hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside present abundantly in citrus fruits, is predominantly metabolized to hesperetin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronide (H7-OG) and hesperetin-3'-O-ß-D-glucuronide (H3'-OG), which exhibit partial agonistic activity towards peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Here, in order to understand the mechanism(s) of action of PPARγ transactivation elicited by hesperetin glucuronides, we compared the transactivation activities of PPARγ (ligand-binding domain (LBD)) mutants by hesperetin glucuronides and troglitazone, a thiazolidine-2,4-dione class PPARγ full agonist. The assay results indicated that the mechanisms of activation of PPARγ by hesperetin glucuronides and by troglitazone are distinct, probably due to a difference in the binding sites of these compounds on the PPARγ LBD. Flavanone-class PPARγ partial agonists, luteolin and hesperetin glucuronides, showed similar activation profiles of the PPARγ LBD mutants, even though they have different side chain functionalities.

Nanosuspensions of hesperetin: preparation and characterization.

Nanosuspensions are a smart formulation principle for dermal applications, as they increase the penetration of poorly soluble substances into the skin. Because microbial stability is a pre-requisite for dermal formulations, water containing formulations need to be preserved. Preservatives are known to possibly impair the physical stability of disperse systems, i.e. by causing agglomeration. These aggregation phenomena might occur during storage of the final product, but can already occur during the production process itself. Therefore, in this study the influence of six different preservatives on the diminution efficiency during the production of hesperetin nanocrystals was investigated. Particles with and without the addition of preservatives were produced by high pressure homogenization (HPH) and the final particle size was analysed and compared to the non-preserved suspension. All preservatives influenced the diminution progress during production and the final particle sizes obtained. The non-preserved suspension yielded a particle size of about 300 nm. Preservation with Hydrolite, Euxyl PE9010, Rokonsal and Phenonip led to sizes of about 400 nm. Preservation with Caprylyl glycol and MultiEx did not lead to nanoparticles (size > 1 microm) and caused a slight agglomeration of the nanosuspensions. Based on zeta potential measurements it was found that the impairment is related to the lipophilicity of the presverative, i.e. the lower the lipophilicity, the less is the impairment. In conclusion, preservatives impair the diminution efficacy during the production of nanosuspensions. Therefore, if possible, preservatives should be added to nanosuspensions after the production process. If preservatives are required during production, highly hydrophilic preservatives, e.g. Hydrolite E, should be used.

Structural effects on the hesperidin properties obtained by chelation to magnesium complexes.

The magnesium complex [Mg(hesp)2(phen)] (1), where hesp=hesperidin and phen=1,10'-phenanthroline, was synthesized and characterized by Elemental Analysis (C,H,N), atomic absorption and spectroscopic (FTIR, UV-visible, (1)H NMR) techniques. The congested structure facilitates the tilting and contact of the two hesperidin ligands by hydrogen bonding interactions having a stabilizer effect on the hesperidin. The hydrogen bonds are strongly affected by the solvent used which can lead to changes in the physical-chemical, luminescence and biologic properties of complex 1. Complex 1 is more hydrosoluble (S=472±3.05µgmL(-1)) and liposoluble (log P=-0.15±0.01) than free hesperidin (S=5.92±0.49µgmL(-1), log P=0.30). Oxidation of the complex in an aqueous solution and room temperature investigated by cyclic voltammetry resulted in a very stable two-electron cyclic process to form the phenoxonium neutral, cation and dication radicals. The stability of the voltammetric process indicates that the species produced are never exhausted and does not lead to changes in the coordination sphere composition. The complex was found to be a better radical scavenger for superoxide radical (IC50=68.3µM at pH7.8) than free hesperidin (IC50=116.68µmolL(-1)) and vitamin C (IC50=852µmolL(-1)). The strong blue fluorescence of complex 1 switches through loss of luminescence in pure water/protic organic solvents or when protected from water (in octanol for example as a model of phospholipid membranes). These features provide an opportunity to map the reactivity of hesperidin in the physiologic medium. In this context, a high uptake of complex into HeLa cells was detected by fluorescence microscopy. The blue fluorescence was uniformly distributed mainly in per nucleic region.

Hesperetin: an inhibitor of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling pathway.

We have identified a previously unknown function of the natural compound, hesperetin. Here, we demonstrate that this small molecular agent is able to inhibit the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling pathway. Single-molecule force measurements and single-molecule fluorescence imaging show that hesperetin interferes with ligand-receptor interactions. Furthermore, by Western blot analysis, it was confirmed that hesperetin also inhibits the phosphorylation of Smad3, a down-stream target of the TGF-ß pathway. In addition we demonstrated that this compound hinders TGF-ß1-induced cancer cell migration and invasion. These results suggest a potential future application for hesperetin as a TGF-ß inhibitor in cancer therapy.

Synthesis and anti-hyperglycemic activity of hesperidin derivatives.

A series of hesperidin derivatives were prepared and identified by IR, (1)H NMR, and MS spectra. These compounds were evaluated in vitro and in vivo based on α-glucosidase inhibition, glucose consumption of HepG2 cells, and blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The results revealed that all the compounds exhibited anti-hyperglycemic activities. The inhibition at 10(-3) M of compounds 3 and 7a on α-glucosidase were 55.02% and 53.34%, respectively, as compared to 54.80% by acarbose. Treated by compound 3 and the reference drug metformin, glucose consumption of HepG2 cell were 1.78 and 2.11 mM, respectively. After the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were oral administrated with compound 3 at 100 mg kg(-1) d(-1) for 10 days, the blood glucose level of 3 treated mice (13.23 mM, P<0.05) showed significant difference when compared to model control (23.03 mM). Thus, compound 3 exhibited promising anti-hyperglycemic activity.