Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Photo- and Neuro-Protective Properties of BIO203, a New Amide Conjugate of Norbixin, in Development for the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

9'-cis-norbixin (norbixin/BIO201) protects RPE cells against phototoxicity induced by blue light and N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) in vitro and preserves visual functions in animal models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in vivo. The purpose of this study was to examine the mode of action and the in vitro and in vivo effects of BIO203, a novel norbixin amide conjugate. Compared to norbixin, BIO203 displays improved stability at all temperatures tested for up to 18 months. In vitro, BIO203 and norbixin share a similar mode of action involving the inhibition of PPARs, NF-κB, and AP-1 transactivations. The two compounds also reduce IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF expression induced by A2E. In vivo, ocular maximal concentration and BIO203 plasma exposure are increased compared to those of norbixin. Moreover, BIO203 administered systemically protects visual functions and retinal structure in albino rats subjected to blue-light illumination and in the retinal degeneration model of Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- double knock-out mice following 6 months of oral complementation. In conclusion, we report here that BIO203 and norbixin share similar modes of action and protective effects in vitro and in vivo. BIO203, with its improved pharmacokinetic and stability properties, could be developed for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases such as AMD.

Structural analysis of unstable norbixin isomers guided by pure shift nuclear magnetic resonance.

We report the analysis of complex samples obtained during the microwave irradiation/heating of norbixin, which has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this context, identifying the different isomers that are obtained during its degradation is of primary importance. However, this characterization is challenging because, on the one hand, some of these isomers are unstable, and on the other hand, the 1 H spectra of these isomeric mixtures are poorly resolved. We could successfully apply 1D pure shift experiments to obtain ultrahigh-resolution 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the norbixin isomer samples and exploit their information content to analyze complementary 2D NMR data and describe accurately their isomeric composition.

Small-scale analysis of phytoecdysteroids in seeds by HPLC-DAD-MS for the identification and quantification of specific analogues, dereplication and chemotaxonomy.

INTRODUCTION: Phytoecdysteroids are analogues of arthropod steroids occurring in plants. They contribute to invertebrate deterrence. A wide diversity of ecdysteroids occurs in phytoecdysteroid-containing plant species, sometimes in high amounts. Ecdysteroids demonstrate potentially useful pharmaceutical actions in mammals. OBJECTIVES: Establish reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-MS/MS) and RP-HPLC-DAD-MS (diode array detector mass spectrometry) methods for the separation, identification and quantification of ecdysteroids to screen for species containing significant amounts of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and other useful ecdysteroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Micro-extracts of seed samples (ca. 30 mg) in 50% ethanol were subjected to RP-SPE (solid-phase extraction) purification prior to analysis by RP-HPLC-MS/MS and RP-HPLC-DAD-MS. The method was initially applied to genera (Amaranthus, Centaurea, Lychnis, Ourisia, Serratula, Silene and Trollius) where high-accumulating species had been previously encountered. Seeds of 160 randomly selected species, many of which have not previously been assessed, were then analysed. HPLC-MS/MS with a short analysis time initially identifies ecdysteroid-positive extracts and quantifies 20E. The positive extracts (20 ng 20E) are then analysed by HPLC-MS/MS with a longer analysis time to identify and quantify 17 common phytoecdysteroids and, finally, HPLC-DAD-MS (0.1-0.25 µg 20E) is used to obtain UV- and MS-spectra to confirm identifications or as a basis for characterisation of partially identified or novel analogues. RESULTS: Lychnis coronaria, Silene fimbriata and Silene hookeri ecdysteroids are characterised for the first time and those of Cucubalus baccifer and Ipheion uniflorum are more extensively characterised. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure provides a rapid/sensitive method for screening small plant samples for the presence, quantification and identification of ecdysteroids. It permits ready dereplication of samples, identifying extracts containing large amounts or novel analogues.

Size matters! Aurora A controls Drosophila larval development.

In metazoans, organisms arising from a fertilized egg, the embryo will develop through multiple series of cell divisions, both symmetric and asymmetric, leading to differentiation. Aurora A is a serine threonine kinase highly involved in such divisions. While intensively studied at the cell biology level, its function in the development of a whole organism has been neglected. Here we investigated the pleiotropic effect of Aurora A loss-of-function in Drosophila larval early development. We report that Aurora A is required for proper larval development timing control through direct and indirect means. In larval tissues, Aurora A is required for proper symmetric division rate and eventually development speed as we observed in central brain, wing disc and ring gland. Moreover, Aurora A inactivation induces a reduction of ecdysteroids levels and a pupariation delay as an indirect consequence of ring gland development deceleration. Finally, although central brain development is initially restricted, we confirmed that brain lobe size eventually increases due to additive phenotypes: delayed pupariation and over-proliferation of cells with an intermediate cell-identity between neuroblast and ganglion mother cell resulting from defective asymmetric neuroblast cell division.

The minor ecdysteroids from Ajuga turkestanica.

INTRODUCTION: Ajuga turkestanica is a plant used in traditional medicine for its high ecdysteroid content, including the presence of the particularly active turkesterone, which possess efficient anabolic activity. OBJECTIVES: To isolate and identify minor ecdysteroids present in a semi-purified plant fraction containing ca. 70% turkesterone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multi-step preparative HPLC (combining RP- and NP-HPLC systems) was used to purify the different components present in the turkesterone fraction. Isolated compounds were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR. RESULTS: Fourteen ecdysteroids (including turkesterone and 20-hydroxyecdysone) were isolated. Seven of these, all bearing an 11α-hydroxy group, were previously unreported. CONCLUSION: Ajuga turkestanica ecdysteroids are characterised by the abundance of 11α-hydroxylated compounds and by the simultaneous presence of 24C, 27C, 28C and 29C ecdysteroids. It is expected that even more ecdysteroids are to be found in this plant since the starting material for this study lacked the less polar ecdysteroids. The simultaneous presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone and turkesterone (its 11α-hydroxy analogue) as the two major ecdysteroids suggests that every ecdysteroid is probably present in both 11α-hydroxy and 11-deoxy forms.

A Phase 1 study for safety and pharmacokinetics of BIO101 (20-hydroxyecdysone) in healthy young and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an age-related skeletal muscle disorder characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength leading to mobility disability. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) is a polyhydroxylated plant steroid that demonstrates pharmacological effects in many disease animal models including ageing/sarcopenia. BIO101 is a 20E purified investigational drug (≥97%) that previously demonstrated good toxicology profiles in rat and dog. BIO101 is evaluated in healthy young and older adults in a Phase 1 study. METHODS: This study is a Single Ascending Dose (SAD) followed by a 14-day Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD). In SAD, BIO101 was administered orally to 16 young adults at doses from 100 to 1400 mg and to 8 older adults (age ≥65 years) at 1400 mg. In MAD, doses of 350 mg once daily (qd), 350 mg twice daily (bid) and 450 mg bid were administered to 10 older adults. The primary objective was to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics (PK), including dosing of circulating metabolites. Pharmacodynamic effects were investigated with regard to myostatin, procollagen-III-amino-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), myoglobin, creatine-kinase Muscle Brain (CKMB), renin and aldosterone plasma/serum levels. RESULTS: BIO101 showed a good safety profile with only mild to moderate adverse events and a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile. In SAD, at 100 mg to 1400 mg, mean Cmax and areas under the curve increased less than dose-proportionally. Mean half-life was short (2.4-4.9 h), and mean renal clearance was comparable in all doses (4.05-5.05 L/h). Mean plasma exposure was slightly lower in older adults (22% lower for Cmax and 13%-15% lower for AUCs) compared with young subjects. In MAD, 350 and 450 mg bid led to a slight accumulation over 14 days (mean ratio of accumulation [Rac] of 1.31 in both cohorts). Reduction of biomarkers (myoglobin, CK-MB) mean serum levels (vs. baseline) was observed at 450 mg bid. Two major metabolites of 20E (14-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone and 14-deoxypoststerone) were identified and quantified. CONCLUSIONS: BIO101 shows a good safety and pharmacokinetic profile that led to the selection of doses for the subsequent interventional clinical trials of Phase 2 in age-related sarcopenia (SARA-INT) and Phase 3 in Covid-19 (COVA).

The complex metabolism of poststerone in male rats.

Ecdysteroids are not endogenous to mammals, but are normal components of the food intake of many mammalian species consuming phytoecdysteroid-containing plants. The most frequently encountered phytoecdysteroid is 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Several pharmaceutical effects have been observed after ecdysteroid injection or ingestion, but it is not clear to what extent metabolites generated in the mammalian body contribute to these effects. The C21-ecdysteroid poststerone (Post) is a metabolite of 20E in rodents. Post analogues are key intermediates in the metabolism of exogenous ecdysteroids possessing a C20/22-diol. The pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and metabolism of Post have been assessed in male rats after ingestion and injection. The bioavailability of Post is significantly greater than that of 20E and the presence of an efficient entero-hepatic cycle allows Post to be effectively metabolised to a wide range of metabolites which are excreted mainly in the faeces, but also to some extent in the urine. Several of the major metabolites in the bile have been identified unambiguously as 3-epi-poststerone, 16α-hydroxypoststerone, 21-hydroxypoststerone and 3-epi-21-hydroxypoststerone. Conjugates are also present. Parallels are drawn to the metabolism of endogenous vertebrate steroid hormones, to which Post bears more similarity than 20E.

A2E-induced inflammation and angiogenesis in RPE cells in vitro are modulated by PPAR-α, -ß/δ, -γ, and RXR antagonists and by norbixin.

N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) plays a central role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by inducing angiogenesis and inflammation. A2E effects are mediated at least partly via the retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-α. Here we show that A2E binds and transactivates also peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR). 9'-cis-norbixin, a di-apocarotenoid is also a ligand of these nuclear receptors (NR). Norbixin inhibits PPAR and RXR transactivation induced by A2E. Moreover, norbixin reduces protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, NF-κB and AP-1 transactivation and mRNA expression of the inflammatory interleukins (IL) -6 and -8 and of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhanced by A2E. By contrast, norbixin increases matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) mRNA expression in response to A2E. Selective PPAR-α, -ß/δ and -γ antagonists inhibit the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 while only the antagonist of PPAR-γ inhibits the transactivation of NF-κB following A2E exposure. In addition, a cocktail of all three PPARs antagonists and also HX531, an antagonist of RXR reproduce norbixin effects on inflammation. Altogether, A2E's deleterious biological effects could be inhibited through PPAR and RXR regulation. Moreover, the modulation of these NR by norbixin may open new avenues for the treatment of AMD.

Systemic administration of the di-apocarotenoid norbixin (BIO201) is neuroprotective, preserves photoreceptor function and inhibits A2E and lipofuscin accumulation in animal models of age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease.

Atrophic A\age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease (STGD) are major blinding diseases affecting millions of patients worldwide, but no treatment is available. In dry AMD and STGD oxidative stress and subretinal accumulation of N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), a toxic by-product of the visual cycle, causes retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration leading to visual impairment. Acute and chronic retinal degeneration following blue light damage (BLD) in BALB/c mice and aging of Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice, respectively, reproduce features of AMD and STGD. Efficacy of systemic administrations of 9'-cis-norbixin (norbixin), a natural di-apocarotenoid, prepared from Bixa orellana seeds with anti-oxidative properties, was evaluated during BLD in BALB/c mice, and in Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice of different ages, following three experimental designs: "preventive", "early curative" and "late curative" supplementations. Norbixin injected intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice, maintained scotopic and photopic electroretinogram amplitude and was neuroprotective. Norbixin chronic oral administration for 6 months in Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice following the "early curative" supplementation showed optimal neuroprotection and maintenance of photoreceptor function and reduced ocular A2E accumulation. Thus, norbixin appears promising as a systemic drug candidate for both AMD and STGD treatment.

Norbixin Protects Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Cells and Photoreceptors against A2E-Mediated Phototoxicity In Vitro and In Vivo.

The accumulation of N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E, a toxic by-product of the visual pigment cycle) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a major cause of visual impairment in the elderly. Photooxidation of A2E results in retinal pigment epithelium degeneration followed by that of associated photoreceptors. Present treatments rely on nutrient supplementation with antioxidants. 9'-cis-Norbixin (a natural diapocarotenoid, 97% purity) was prepared from Bixa orellana seeds. It was first evaluated in primary cultures of porcine retinal pigment epithelium cells challenged with A2E and illuminated with blue light, and it provided an improved photo-protection as compared with lutein or zeaxanthin. In Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice (a model of dry AMD), intravitreally-injected norbixin maintained the electroretinogram and protected photoreceptors against light damage. In a standard rat blue-light model of photodamage, norbixin was at least equally as active as phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone, a free radical spin-trap. Chronic experiments performed with Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice treated orally for 3 months with norbixin showed a reduced A2E accumulation in the retina. Norbixin appears promising for developing an oral treatment of macular degeneration. A drug candidate (BIO201) with 9'-cis-norbixin as the active principle ingredient is under development, and its potential will be assessed in a forthcoming clinical trial.

Ecdysteroid profiles of two Ajuga species, A. iva and A. remota.

Phytoecdysteroids are plant analogues of insect moulting hormones and are used by plants to repel or disturb phytophagous insects. They are also active on mammals and present in many plants used in traditional medicine. The Ajuga genus contains several such species, which occur in various pharmacopoeias. We report the isolation and identification of major and minor ecdysteroids present in two Ajuga species, A. iva and A. remota, both of which are used as medicinal plants in Africa. Three minor ecdysteroids (abutasterone, ponasterone A and sidisterone) have been found for the first time in the Ajuga genus.