[Research progress of ellagitannin intestinal metabolite urolithins].

Ellagitannins is a kind of phenolic compounds with many biological activities. Recent studies have found that the effective ingredients of these compounds have close relationship with their colon-derived bacteria metabolites, that is urolithins. The objective of this study was to review the structure characteristics, types and distribution of urolithins, improvement in diseases related to prostate, breast and colon, as well as anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and other biological activities. The present review will lay the foundation for development and utilization of urolithins.

Circulating mtDNA and Impaired Intestinal Barrier after Gastrointestinal Surgery Are Correlated with Postoperative SIRS.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study aimed to explore the correlation between circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), intestinal barrier function impairment, and postoperative SIRS in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: Patients were recruited into this study after signing an informed consent form. Circulating mitochondrial DNA and serum DAO concentrations were measured preoperatively and on day 1 and day 7 postoperatively. Postoperative vitals, routine tests, and biochemical indicators were recorded in detail. RESULTS: Forty patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were recruited for and completed this study. Patients were divided into non-fever, fever, and SIRS groups according to their postoperative temperature and other corresponding indexes. The mtDNA was expressed as the number of PCR cycles using three specific sequences. Circulating mtDNA tended to increase in patients after gastrointestinal surgery, but the difference was not significant. Nevertheless, mtDNA in the SIRS group was significantly higher than in patients in the fever and non-fever groups (p < 0.05). Serum DAO showed a trend of increase on the first day after surgery compared with that before surgery, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). However, patients in the SIRS group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared with the others. Both circulating mtDNA and DAO showed a downward trend on the seventh day after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating mtDNA presented a trend of increase after gastrointestinal surgery, and the degree of the increased fold was related to the extent of the inflammation response. In general, the intestinal barrier damage indicator DAO was the same as mtDNA and tended to increase after gastrointestinal surgery and then gradually decrease, which may play a synergistic role in inducing postoperative fever and SIRS.

Synthesis and activity evaluation of tilorone analogs as potential anticancer agents.

Tilorone is an interferon inducer with anticancer activity. Twenty-two novel tilorone analogs were synthesized by improvements of fluorenone skeleton, side chains and amino groups to screen new anticancer agents. In vitro evaluation showed that ten new compounds had better anticancer activities than tilorone. Among them, 2c (IC50 < 7 µM against cancer cell lines and IC50 > 35 µM against non-cancer cell lines) and 5d (IC50 < 10 µM against cancer cell lines and IC50 > 53 µM against non-cancer cell lines) exhibited the best anticancer activities and selectivities. Pharmacophore modeling of highly active compounds was carried out by Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) to generate a visualized model for compound design in future study.

16-morpholino quaternary ammonium steroidal derivatives as neuromuscular blocking agents: synthesis, biological evaluation and in silico probe of ligand-receptor interaction.

A series of steroidal 3,16-bis-quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized and screened on mouse hemi-diaphragm to explore new steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents. There were two compounds, 3ß-piperidino derivate 8d (IC(50) = 3.49 µM) and 3ß-N-methylbenzylamino derivate 8g (IC(50) = 4.54 µM), showing activity close to rocuronium (IC(50) = 2.50 µM). The preliminary structure-activity relationship was deduced from the bioactivity results with the aid of the calculated N-N distance and log P. Meanwhile, the interactions between the ligand and binding pocket were revealed by docking 8d to the ligand binding domain of the mouse muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). This nAChR was modeled using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) package indirectly from mollusca acetylcholine binding protein with mouse neuron α7 nAChR as intermediary template.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of some 16E-arylidene androstane derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

A series of new 16E-arylidene androstane derivatives were synthesized and characterized. The new compounds were screened for their anticancer activities against the human cancer cell lines SW480, A549, HepG2 and HeLa in vitro using the MTT assay. The results of the in vitro study showed that a number of compounds have shown IC(50) values lower than 20 µM against the four cancer cell lines.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 3-O-carbamoyl derivatives of 6,11-di-O-methylerythromycin A: a novel class of acylides.

A novel series of acylides, 3-O-carbamoyl derivatives of 6,11-di-O-methylerythromycin A, were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activity. These compounds have significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive pathogens, including erythromycin-resistant but methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, erythromycin-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and gram-negative pathogens, such as Haemophilus influenzae. Among the derivatives tested, compounds 4p, 4r, 4w, 4x and 4z were found to have potent activity against most susceptible and resistant bacteria. Compound 4p exhibited excellent antibacterial activity in comparison to the others.