Isolation, Synthesis, and Semisynthesis of Amaryllidaceae Constituents from Narcissus and Galanthus sp.: De Novo Total Synthesis of 2- epi-Narciclasine.

An efficient protocol for the isolation of narciclasine from common Amaryllidaceae bulbs, separation from haemanthamine, and the occurrence of a trace alkaloid, 2- epi-narciclasine, are reported. Attempts to convert natural narciclasine to its C-2 epimer by Mitsunobu inversion or oxidation/reduction sequences were compromised by rearrangement and aromatization processes, through which a synthesis of the alkaloid narciprimine was achieved. The methylation of the 7-hydroxy group of natural narciclasine followed by protection of the 3,4-diol function and oxidation/reduction sequence provided the target C-2 epimer. A de novo chemoenzymatic synthesis of 2- epi-narciclasine from m-dibromobenzene is also described. Haemanthamine and narciprimine were readily detected in the crude extracts of Narcissus and Galanthus bulbs containing narciclasine, and the occurrence of 2- epi-narciclasine as a trace natural product in Galanthus sp. is reported for the first time.

Discovery of potent antiviral (HSV-1) quinazolinones and initial structure-activity relationship studies.

The discovery of antiviral activity of 2,3-disubstituted quinazolinones, prepared by a one-pot, three-component condensation of isatoic anhydride with amines and aldehydes, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-1 is reported. Sequential iterative synthesis/antiviral assessment allowed structure-activity relationship (SAR) generation revealing synergistic structural features required for potent anti-HSV-1 activity. The most potent derivatives show greater efficacy than acyclovir against acute HSV-1 infections in neurons and minimal toxicity to the host.

Comparison of three cell-based drug screening platforms for HSV-1 infection.

Acyclovir (ACV) and its derivatives have been highly effective for treating recurrent, lytic infections with Herpes Simplex Virus, type 1 (HSV-1), but searches for additional antiviral drugs are motivated by recent reports of resistance to ACV, particularly among immunocompromised patients. In addition, the relative neurotoxicity of ACV and its inability to prevent neurological sequelae among HSV-1 encephalitis survivors compel searches for new drugs to treat HSV-1 infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Primary drug screens for neurotropic viruses like HSV-1 typically utilize non-neuronal cell lines, but they may miss drugs that have neuron specific antiviral effects. Therefore, we compared the effects of a panel of conventional and novel anti-herpetic compounds in monkey epithelial (Vero) cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and hiPSC-derived neurons (N = 73 drugs). While the profiles of activity for the majority of the drugs were similar in all three tissues, Vero cells were less likely than NPCs to identify drugs with substantial inhibitory activity in hiPSC-derived neurons. We discuss the relative merits of each cell type for antiviral drug screens against neuronal infections with HSV-1.

A sol-gel-derived acetylcholinesterase microarray for nanovolume small-molecule screening.

A fluorimetric acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assay was developed and characterized both in solution and with the enzyme entrapped in sol-gel-derived silica. The assay is based on a disulfide-thiol interchange reaction between the intramolecularly quenched dimeric dye BODIPY FL l-cystine and thiocholine generated by the AChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine (ATCh), which results in a brightly fluorescent monomeric product owing to the cleavage of the disulfide-coupled form of the dye. The new assay was validated by comparison with the Ellman assay performed under parallel conditions and was used in both kinetic and end point assays. The assay was extended to the fabrication of functional AChE microarrays using contact pin-printing of sol-gel-derived silica. A total of 392 sol-gel formulations were screened for gelation times and 192 of these were further evaluated for array fabrication on four different surfaces using a factor analysis approach. Of these, 66 sol-gel/surface combinations produced robust microarrays, while 26 sol-gel/surface combinations were identified that could produce highly active AChE microarrays. The Z' factor for the on-array assay using an optimal sol-gel/surface combination, which considers both signal variability and difference in signals between positive and negative controls, was determined to be 0.60, which is above the minimum level required for applicability to screening. By overprinting nanoliter volumes of solutions containing the dye, ATCh, and potential inhibitors, these microarrays could be used to screen two libraries of small molecules, one composed of newly synthesized alkaloids and another consisting of ∼1000 known bioactive compounds, both as discrete compounds and mixtures thereof, for activity against AChE. IC(50) values were obtained on microarrays for compounds showing significant inhibitory activity, demonstrating the utility of arrays for quantitative inhibition assays.

Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory activity studies within the lycorine series of alkaloids.

A mini-panel of semi-synthetic analogs of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid lycorine was screened for cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitory activity, the most potent of which exhibited inhibition as low as 0.21 microM. Elements of this novel pharmacophore unravelled include bulky lipophilic substitution at C2 in conjunction with a small hydrogen bond donor/acceptor at C1, or bulky electron-rich substitution at C1 in conjunction with a vicinal hydrogen bond donor/acceptor.

Structure activity studies on the crinane alkaloid apoptosis-inducing pharmacophore.

The apoptosis-inducing ability of alpha-ethano bridged crinane alkaloids was investigated using natural and semi-synthetic derivatives uncovering novel structural requirements of this cytotoxic pharmacophore. An alpha-ethano bridge is required; an alpha- or beta-methoxy or hydroxyl H-bond acceptor are all tolerated at C-3; a small substituent (H, or OH) alone is tolerated at C-11; and a C-1 to C-2 double bond is shown to modulate, but is not a requirement for, apoptosis-inducing activity.

Selective cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory activity of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.

A library of natural and semi-synthetic Amaryllidaceae alkaloids was screened for cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitory activity. Of the crinane, lycorane and galanthamine representatives examined two semi-synthetic silylated lycorane analogues, accessed via a chemoselective silylation strategy from lycorine, and the natural compound narciclasine exhibited low micromolar activities. Important pharmacological features uncovered include the lack of CYP3A4 inhibitory activity seen for galanthamine and the selective activity that is seen with narciclasine over pancratistatin.

Discovery of the apoptosis-inducing activity and high accumulation of the butenolides, menisdaurilide and aquilegiolide in Dicentra spectabilis.

The occurrence of two butenolides, menisdaurilide and aquilegiolide, in commercial specimens of Dicentra spectabilis is reported for the first time; a rapid and direct isolation protocol is described. The ability of these lactones to induce apoptosis in human tumour cell lines at 10 microM concentration is also described. The high abundance and apoptosis-inducing activity reported here indicates that these constituents play a more significant role than the hormonal action previously attributed to them.

AACAP 2002 research forum: placebo and alternatives to placebo in randomized controlled trials in pediatric psychopharmacology.

OBJECTIVE: The use of placebo in the pediatric age group has come under increasing scrutiny. At the 2002 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Academy's Workgroup on Research conducted a research forum. The purpose was to identify challenges and their solutions regarding the use of placebo in randomized controlled trials in pediatric psychopharmacology. METHOD: Workgroups focused on problems and solutions in five areas: ethics and human subjects, research design and statistics, partnering with consumers, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical industry perspectives, and psychosocial treatments. RESULTS: In many but not all circumstances, inclusion of a placebo control is essential to meet the scientific goals of treatment outcome research. Innovative research designs; involvement of consumers in planning and implementing research; flexibility by industry, academia, the National Institutes of Health, and regulatory agencies acting in partnership; and concomitant use of evidence-based psychosocial services can and should assist in making placebo-controlled trials acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Properly designed placebo-controlled trials remain necessary, ethical, and feasible.