Impairment of locomotor activity induced by the novel N-acylhydrazone derivatives LASSBio-785 and LASSBio-786 in mice

The N-acylhydrazone (NAH) analogues N-methyl 2-thienylidene 3,4-benzoylhydrazine (LASSBio-785) and N-benzyl 2-thienylidene 3,4-benzoylhydrazine (LASSBio-786) were prepared from 2-thienylidene 3,4-methylenedioxybenzoylhydrazine (LASSBio-294). The ability of LASSBio-785 and LASSBio-786 to decrease central nervous system activity was investigated in male Swiss mice. LASSBio-785 or LASSBio-786 (30 mg/kg, ip) reduced locomotor activity from 209 ± 26 (control) to 140 ± 18 (P < 0.05) or 146 ± 15 crossings/min (P < 0.05), respectively. LASSBio-785 (15 or 30 mg/kg, iv) also reduced locomotor activity from 200 ± 15 to 116 ± 29 (P < 0.05) or 60 ± 16 crossings/min (P < 0.01), respectively. Likewise, LASSBio-786 (15 or 30 mg/kg, iv) reduced locomotor activity from 200 ± 15 to 127 ± 10 (P < 0.01) or 96 ± 14 crossings/min (P < 0.01), respectively. Pretreatment with flumazenil (20 mg/kg, ip) prevented the locomotor impairment induced by NAH analogues (15 mg/kg, iv), providing evidence that the benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor is involved. This finding was supported by the structural similarity of NAH analogues to midazolam. However, LASSBio-785 showed weak binding to the BDZ receptor. LASSBio-785 or LASSBio-786 (30 mg/kg, ip, n = 10) increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time from 42 ± 5 (DMSO) to 66 ± 6 (P < 0.05) or 75 ± 4 min (P < 0.05), respectively. The dose required to achieve 50% hypnosis (HD50) following iv injection of LASSBio-785 or LASSBio-786 was 15.8 or 9.5 mg/kg, respectively. These data suggest that both NAH analogues might be useful for the development of new neuroactive drugs for the treatment of insomnia or for use in conjunction with general anesthesia.

Protective effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on lung function and remodeling in a murine model of chronic asthma

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a novel phosphodiesterase 4 and 5 inhibitor, LASSBio596, with that of dexamethasone in a murine model of chronic asthma. Lung mechanics (airway resistance, viscoelastic pressure, and static elastance), histology, and airway and lung parenchyma remodeling (quantitative analysis of collagen and elastic fiber) were analyzed. Thirty-three BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups. In the asthma group (N = 9), mice were immunized with 10 æg ovalbumin (OVA, ip) on 7 alternate days, and after day 40 they were challenged with three intratracheal instillations of 20 æg OVA at 3-day intervals. Control mice (N = 8) received saline under the same protocol. In the dexamethasone (N = 8) and LASSBio596 (N = 8) groups, the animals of the asthma group were treated with 1 mg/kg dexamethasone disodium phosphate (0.1 mL, ip) or 10 mg/kg LASSBio596 dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (0.2 mL, ip) 24 h before the first intratracheal instillation of OVA, for 8 days. Airway resistance, viscoelastic pressure and static elastance increased significantly in the asthma group (77, 56, and 76 percent, respectively) compared to the control group. The asthma group presented more intense alveolar collapse, bronchoconstriction, and eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration than the control group. Both LASSBio596 and dexamethasone inhibited the changes in lung mechanics, tissue cellularity, bronchoconstriction, as well as airway and lung parenchyma remodeling. In conclusion, LASSBio596 at a dose of 10 mg/kg effectively prevented lung mechanical and morphometrical changes and had the potential to block fibroproliferation in a BALB/c mouse model of asthma.

Dopaminergic profile of new heterocyclic N-phenylpiperazine derivatives

Dopamine constitutes about 80 percent of the content of central catecholamines and has a crucial role in the etiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, depression and schizophrenia. Several dopaminergic drugs are used to treat these pathologies, but many problems are attributed to these therapies. Within this context, the search for new more efficient dopaminergic agents with less adverse effects represents a vast research field. The aim of the present study was to report the structural design of two N-phenylpiperazine derivatives, compound 4: 1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-4-pyrazolylmethyl]-4-phenylhexahydropyrazine and compound 5: 1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-ylmethyl]-4-phenylhexahydropyrazine, planned to be dopamine ligands, and their dopaminergic action profile. The two compounds were assayed (dose range of 15-40 mg/kg) in three experimental models: 1) blockade of amphetamine (30 mg/kg, ip)-induced stereotypy in rats; 2) the catalepsy test in mice, and 3) apomorphine (1 mg/kg, ip)-induced hypothermia in mice. Both derivatives induced cataleptic behavior (40 mg/kg, ip) and a hypothermic response (30 mg/kg, ip) which was not prevented by haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg, ip). Compound 5 (30 mg/kg, ip) also presented a synergistic hypothermic effect with apomorphine (1 mg/kg, ip). Only compound 4 (30 mg/kg, ip) significantly blocked the amphetamine-induced stereotypy in rats. The N-phenylpiperazine derivatives 4 and 5 seem to have a peculiar profile of action on dopaminergic functions. On the basis of the results of catalepsy and amphetamine-induced stereotypy, the compounds demonstrated an inhibitory effect on dopaminergic behaviors. However, their hypothermic effect is compatible with the stimulation of dopaminergic function which seems not to be mediated by D2/D3 receptors

2-pyridylarylhydrazone derivatives, a new class of platelet aggregation inhibitors

A series of 2-pyridylarylhydrazone derivatives was synthesized and compared with a previously reported pyrazole series, i.e., 4-acylpyrazolylarylhydrazone and 5-pyrazolylarylhydrazone, which present antiplatelet aggregation activity. The structures of these pyridylarylhydrazone derivatives were designed on the basis of the known bioisosteric relationship of the heteroaromatic ring. The antiplatelet aggregation activity was measured in vitro on citrated platelet-rich rabbit plasma in which aggregation was induced with 5 muM ADP, 5 mug/ml collagen and 200 muM arachidonic acid. Eighteen compounds belonging to the pyridine series were tested at 1 mM concentration and none inhibited ADP-induced rabbit platelet aggregation. 2-(2-Formylfurane)pyridylhydrazone exhibited a highly potent inhibitory activity on arachidonic acid-induced aggregation, with an IC50 of 0.35 muM. These results suggest that the hydrazone unit and the 2-furyl moiety of the arylhydrazone framework are important pharmacophores for antiplatelet activity.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of 3-3-(phenyl)-1, 2, 4-oxadiazol-5-yl propionic acid

Significant local analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity has been observed after oral administration of 3-[3-(phenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl] propionic acid (POPA). Doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight administered orally by gavage to adult (25-35 g) albino mice of both sexes can inhibit acetic acid-induced writhing by 31.0 and 49.5, respectively (mean +/- SEM writhing numbers during 20 min were 52.0 +/- 6.0 and 38.3 +/- 7.2 vs 75.8 +/- 6.6 for control group which received saline; N = 6). Carrageenin-induced inflammation in the female Wistar rat (200-250 g) can be reduced by 43.3 and 42.2 3 h after oral administration (gavage) of 75 and 150 mg/kg of POPA (mean +/- SEM, 30.0 +/- 1.3 and 30.6 +/- 2.4 vs 52.9 +/- 3.7 for control group which received saline; N = 5). In the hot plate test on adult albino mice (25-35 g) of both sexes, POPA (150 and 300 mg/kg, po) was totally ineffective (N = 10). Our results indicate that POPA appears to offer potential safety and efficacy as a local analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent with no central nervous system involvement

Substituded pyrazolylhydrazones: a new class of platelet aggregation inhibitors

A series of 5-pyrazolylhydrazone derivates (I) were designed to be mixed hybrid isosteres of both BW-755C and CBS-1108 which belong to the class of dual cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. Pharmacological evaluation of some members of this series (Ia, 1-formy 1-3,4-methylenedioxy-6-nitrobenzene-5-(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-nitropyrazolil)hydrazone; Ib, 2-formylfurane-5-(1-phenyl-3-methyll-4-nitropyrazolyl)hidrazone; Ic, (E)-2-(formylethenylfurane)-5-(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-nitropyrazolyl)hydrazone showed that they inhibit the in vitro platelet aggregation of citrated platelet-rich rabbit plasma induced by ADP (5µM), collagen (5µg/ml) and arachidonic acid (100 µM). Compounds Ia and Ic at 100 µM concentration showed 49% and 58% inhibition, respectively, of ADP-induced aggregation. In the arachidonic acid-induced aggregation, compounds Ia and Ib at 100 µM concentration fully inhibited platelet aggregation. All compounds significantly inhibited the collagen-induced aggregation. In contrast, indomethacin (10 µM) showed 100% and 85% aggregation inhibition against arachidonic acid and collagen, respectivelym, and was inactive in the ADP- induced aggregation test. These results suggest that the structure-activity relationship in this series of compounds is dependent on the hydrazone moiety at position 5 of the pyrazole ring and on the distance between the aryl ring and the pyrazole ring and that the 2-furyl ring is at the optimal distance for the maximal activity

Antinociceptive property of new 4-acyl-arylhydrazone pyrazole compounds

A series of new 4-acyl-arylhydrazone pyrazole compunds were tested for antinociceptive activity using the inhibition of abdominal contortions induced by acetylcholine (4 mg/Kg, ip) in the mouse. Dipyrone was used for comparison of the antinociceptive potency of the compounds being tested. All drugs wee administered po in saline (dipyrone) or in propylene flycol 94-acyl-arylhydrazones). The maximum response induced by dipyrone (86% inhibition) was assigned an efficacy index of 1.0. Although none of the compounds had an efficacy index greater than 1.0, all three reached 1.0. The two most potent compounds, Wd1 and W1g, which also had an efficacy similar to that of dipyrone, contain a p-N(CH3)2 and m-OH,p-OCH3 group in the aromatic ring of the acyl-hydrazone, respectively. W1d presented the lowest antinociceptive ED50 in the series (1.41 mg/Kg) and was eleven times more potent than dypyrone (ED50 = 15.80 mg/Kg). Other substitutions at the para position had lower potency than W1d. The present results indicate that the introduction of a group at the para postion of the acyl-arylhydrazone ring increases the antinociceptive activity of these compounds to provide compounds of the same efficacy but greater potency than dipyrone to which these new compounds ara structurally related. Other assays of nociceptive activity are veing used to characterize the mechanism of action of the potential new drugs

Anti-inflammatory preoperties of new bioisosteres of indomethacim synthesized from safrole which are sulindac analogues

The anti-inflammatory activities of new compounds (I, II, II and IV) synthesized in 30% overall yield from the abundant natural product safrole, the principal chemical constituent of the oil of sassafras (Ocotea pretiosa, Lauraceae), were determined in mice. The synthesis of these new indenyl-acetic acids (I and II) and indenyl-propionic acids (III and IV) was based on the minimal structural features of non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents of the aryl- or heteroarylcarboxylic acid group. The compounds exhibited potencies 4- to 10-fold less than that of indometacin in inhibiting carrageenan-induced hindpaw edema. In contrast, like sulindac, all the new compounds were more potent than indomethacin in antagonizing writhing pain and increased vascular permeability caused by acetic acid. The results confirm the anticipated bioisosteric relationship between these synthetic derivatives, designed as sulindac analogues, and the classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, indomethacin