Inhibition of peripheral blood neutrophil oxidative burst in periodontitis patients with a homeopathic medication Traumeel S.

BACKGROUND: The anti-inflammatory effects of a homeopathic remedy, Traumeel S, have been observed in experimental and clinical studies; however, its antioxidant properties have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of Traumeel S on peripheral blood neutrophils in patients with periodontitis. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study was performed using venous blood of 22 individuals with chronic periodontitis and 21 healthy subjects. The antioxidant effects of Traumeel S on the production of reactive oxygen species by unstimulated and stimulated with unopsonized E. coli neutrophils were investigated using luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). RESULTS: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes of periodontitis patients produced higher levels (p<0.01) of light output of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence and significantly reduced (p<0.01) light output of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence than analogous cells of healthy subjects. Highly diluted (10⁻4 of the stem solution) Traumeel S significantly (by approximately 50%) reduced superoxide-induced oxidation of lucigenin by unstimulated and stimulated with unopsonized E. coli polymorphonuclear leukocytes of periodontitis patients and had a tendency to intensify luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Preincubation of the unstimulated and stimulated with unopsonized E. coli polymorphonuclear leukocytes of healthy subjects with Traumeel S exerts no inhibitory action on the luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence of the above-mentioned cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that Traumeel S may significantly reduce production of superoxide anion by unstimulated and stimulated peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils of periodontitis patients.

Identification of specific small molecule ligands for stem loop 3 ribonucleic acid of the packaging signal Psi of human immunodeficiency virus-1.

We have screened the NCI diversity set library for molecules that bind specifically to stem loop 3 (SL3) RNA of the packaging element Psi of HIV-1 using the docking programs DOCK and AutoDock, followed by MD simulations. The association of the predicted ligands with SL3 RNA was characterized using fluorescence, ITC, UV-melting, CD, and footprinting techniques. Nine ligands for SL3 RNA have been identified, four of which bind with higher affinity to SL3 RNA than to either single- or double-stranded RNA motifs. The most selective ligands, 9 (NSC252359) and 5 (NSC123111), bind SL3 RNA with dissociation constants of 11 microM and 98 microM, respectively. Compound 9 binds with 4-7-fold higher affinity to SL3 RNA than to the other tetraloops found in Psi-RNA, SL2 and SL4 RNAs. The results suggest that both 9 and 5 bind to the stem region of SL3 RNA without large distortions of the SL3 RNA.

Ginkgo biloba extract ameliorates ischemia reperfusion-induced renal injury in rats.

There is increasing evidence to suggest that reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) in the kidney. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Wistar albino rats were unilaterally nephrectomized, and 15 days later they were subjected to 45 min of renal pedicle occlusion followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) (50 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) or saline was administered twice, 15 min prior to ischemia and immediately before the reperfusion period. At the end of the treatment period, all rats were decapitated. Kidney samples were taken for histological examination or determination of the renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen content. Production of reactive oxidants was monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Creatinine and urea concentrations in blood were measured for the evaluation of renal function. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also assayed in serum samples. Ischemia/reperfusion caused a significant decrease in GSH level, which was accompanied with significant increases in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content of kidney tissues. Similarly, serum BUN and creatinine levels, as well as LDH and TNF-alpha, were elevated in the I/R group as compared to control group. On the other hand, EGb treatment reversed all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations, which were induced by I/R. The findings imply that ROMs play a causal role in I/R-induced renal injury and EGb exerts renoprotective effects probably by the radical scavenging and antioxidant activities.

Evaluation of by disubstituted acridone derivatives as telomerase inhibitors: the importance of G-quadruplex binding.

The synthesis and evaluation of a group of 2,6-, 2,7- and 3,6-bis-aminoalkylamido acridones are reported, which show a similar level of activity against telomerase in vitro compared to their acridine counterparts. Computer modelling and calculations of relative binding energies suggest an equivalent binding mode to human intramolecular G-quadruplex DNA, but with significantly reduced affinity, as a result of the limited delocalisation of the acridone chromophore compared to the acridine system. Thermal melting studies on acridone and acridine quadruplex complexes using a FRET approach support these predictions. Long-term cell proliferation studies at sub-cytotoxic doses with two representative acridones using the SKOV3 cell line, show that neither compound produces growth arrest, in contrast with the effects produced by the tri-substituted acridine compound BRACO-19. It is concluded that telomerase inhibitory activity is a necessary though by itself insufficient property in order for cellular growth arrest to occur at sub-toxic concentrations, and that tight quadruplex binding is also required.

Specific accumulation and revised structures of acridone alkaloid glucosides in the tips of transformed roots of Ruta graveolens.

The root tips of Ruta graveolens (common rue) show strong autofluorescence of acridone alkaloids, which are characteristic secondary metabolites of this plant. To study the specific distribution and accumulation of acridone alkaloids in various root segments of Ruta graveolens, root material was harvested from genetically transformed root cultures and extracts were investigated by chromatographic techniques and HPLC-(1)H NMR spectroscopy. The cells of the elongation and differentiation zones contained acridone glucosides and large amounts of acridone alkaloids, mainly rutacridone. Gravacridondiol glucoside was identified as the dominant secondary compound of the root tips and its structure revised by means of spectroscopic methods. In addition, minor acridones, including the structurally revised gravacridontriol glucoside and unknown natural products, were found in the root tip.

Depressed humoral immunity after weight reduction in competitive judoists.

We studied changes in serum opsonic activity (SOA) in male judoists who were engaged in active weight reduction. Serum immunoglobulins, complements and SOA, measured by neutrophil-associated chemiluminescence responses, were investigated 20 days, 7 days and 1 day before a competition and 5 days after the competition. In addition, muscle strength and anaerobic work capacity, as well as body composition, were also determined. A dietary survey was conducted daily during the observation period. Body weight decreased by 4.2 kg over 19 days. SOA significantly decreased 5 days after the competition, as well as the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins, complements and total proteins. These trends were noted in the marked weight reduction group (i.e. reduction weight of body fat/body fat weight before weight reduction > or = 25%) more than the slight reduction group (<25%). Depressed SOA was closely correlated with the decreased concentrations of immunoglobulins and complements. These results suggest that the decrease in immunoglobulins and complements following weight reduction is associated with reduced SOA, which might cause susceptibility to infections. This study demonstrated that such immunosuppression appeared in the recovery period after the competition rather than immediately before the competition.

Free radical scavenging properties of sulfinpyrazone.

Sulfinpyrazone, a potent uricosuric drug, was tested in vitro for its scavenging action against oxygen free radicals. In this study, sulfinpyrazone was able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical with IC50 value of 29.82 micrograms/ml compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, IC50 value = 20.15 micrograms/ml) and Trolox (IC50 value = 16.01 micrograms/ml). It was able to scavenge superoxide anion with IC50 value of 27.72 micrograms/ml compared to Trolox (IC50 value = 22.08 micrograms/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC50 value = 14.65 micrograms/ml). The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of sulfinpyrazone is in a concentration-dependent fashion. In the range of concentrations used, sulfinpyrazone was not a scavenger toward H2O2. However, the intracellular H2O2-induced 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) fluorescence in HL-60 cells was significantly reduced by sulfinpyrazone during 30-60 min of incubation. Finally, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate induced-lucigenin chemiluminescence in whole blood was markedly inhibited by sulfinpyrazone. Our results suggest a new direction for the pharmacological actions of sulfinpyrazone in free radical scavenging properties.

Selective binding to AT sequences in DNA by an acridine-linked peptide containing the SPKK motif.

The sequence selectivity of binding to DNA by an acridine-linked peptide ligand has been investigated by means of footprinting methodologies. The ligand conjugates an anilino-acridine intercalating chromophore with the potentially minor groove binder octapeptide SPKKSPKK. This basic peptide corresponds to a highly conserved DNA recognition motif found in histone H1 and several other nonhistone proteins. Three complementary techniques using DNase I, hydroxyl radicals and osmium tetroxide as sequencing probes have been employed to evaluate both the sequence specificity of binding and the drug-induced conformational changes in DNA. The results converge to demonstrate the AT-selectivity and support a model in which the peptide moiety lies in the minor groove. DNA-binding sites of the conjugate are restricted to a few alternating AT-sequences proximal to GC-rich regions. Binding to homooligomeric runs of A and T is clearly disfavoured by the hybrid whereas such sequences represent preferred binding sites for the unsubstituted basic peptide. These differences reflect the influence of the anilino-acridine chromophore, which evidently contributes to the DNA recognition process allowing the peptide only to contact defined DNA sequences.

Oral absorption and selective tissue localization of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide.

The disposition of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide (AMSA), a new antitumor agent presently undergoing clinical evaluation, was studied in mice and rats following oral administration and compared to that observed following intravenous administration. The metabolic fate of AMSA was the same with either intravenous or oral administration; however, the tissue distribution of AMSA differed significantly between the two routes of administration. Following absorption from the GI tract, AMSA was rapidly cleared from plasma by the liver and excreted in the bile as metabolites. Concentrations of AMSA in the liver were relatively high after oral administration and were sufficient to exert a cytotoxic effect on L1210 cells implanted at the site. The results indicate the use of AMSA orally to attain selective localization in the liver with decreased systemic exposure, which may prove useful against tumor metastases to the liver or primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Selective localization of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide in B 16 melanoma.

The acridine derivative 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide (AMSA, NSC-141549), a new antitumor agent undergoing phase I clinical evaluation, is highly active against B16 melanoma in vivo. AMSA was found to be concentrated in B16 melanoma cells in vivo and remained at high concentrations for at least 72 h. Subcellular fractionation of B16 melanoma cells revealed the drug to be bound to melanin granules. The results suggest the possible use of AMSA in human melanoma and the design of other antimelanoma agents that would exploit the affinity of the acridine nucleus for melanin.