Thioether and Ether Furofuran Lignans: Semisynthesis, Reaction Mechanism, and Inhibitory Effect against α-Glucosidase and Free Radicals.

The transformation of sesame lignans is interesting because the derived products possess enhanced bioactivity and a wide range of potential applications. In this study, the semisynthesis of 28 furofuran lignans using samin (5) as the starting material is described. Our methodology involved the protonation of samin (5) to generate an oxocarbenium ion followed by the attack from two different nucleophiles, namely, thiols (RSH) and alcohols (ROH). The highly diastereoselective thioether and ether furofuran lignans were obtained, and their configurations were confirmed by 2D NMR and X-ray crystallography. The mechanism underlying the reaction was studied by monitoring 1H NMR and computational calculations, that is, the diastereomeric α- and ß-products were equally formed through the SN1-like mechanism, while the ß-product was gradually transformed via an SN2-like mechanism to the α-congener in the late step. Upon evaluation of the inhibitory effect of the synthesized lignans against α-glucosidases and free radicals, the lignans 7f and 7o of the phenolic hydroxyl group were the most potent inhibitors. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying the α-glucosidase inhibition of 7f and 7o were verified to be of a mixed manner and noncompetitive inhibition, respectively. The results indicated that both 7f and 7o possessed promising antidiabetic activity, while simultaneously inhibiting α-glucosidases and free radicals.

Samin-derived flavonolignans, a new series of antidiabetic agents having dual inhibition against α-glucosidase and free radicals.

A series of novel flavonolignans were synthesized by the reaction between a lignan named samin (1) and a range of flavonoids. This simple and rapid approach allowed direct assembly of these two bulky motifs in good yields without the formation of byproducts. Upon evaluation of antidiabetic activity of the synthesized products, epicatechinosamin (ß-2g) was the most active α-glucosidase inhibitor toward maltase and sucrase. The kinetic study indicated that ß-2 g inhibited the enzymes in a mixed manner of competitive and noncompetitive inhibition.

Furofuran lignans as a new series of antidiabetic agents exerting α-glucosidase inhibition and radical scarvenging: Semisynthesis, kinetic study and molecular modeling.

A new series of furofuran lignans containing catechol moiety were prepared from the reactions between lignans and a variety of phenolics. All 22 products obtained were evaluated against three different α-glucosidases (maltase, sucrase and Baker's yeast glucosidase) and DPPH radical. Of furofuran lignans evaluated, ß-14, having two catechol moieties and one acetoxy group, was the most potent inhibitor against Baker's yeast, maltase, and sucrase with IC50 values of 5.3, 25.7, and 12.9 µM, respectively. Of interest, its inhibitory potency toward Baker's yeast was 28 times greater than standard drug, acarbose and its DPPH radical scavenging (SC50 11.2 µM) was 130 times higher than commercial antioxidant BHT. Subsequent investigation on mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of ß-14 revealed that it blocked Baker's yeast and sucrase functions by mixed-type inhibition while it exerted non-competitive inhibition toward maltase. Molecular dynamics simulation of the most potent furofuran lignans (4, α-8b, α-14, and ß-14) with the homology rat intestinal maltase at the binding site revealed that the hydrogen bond interactions from catechol, acetoxy, and quinone moieties of furofuran lignans were the key interaction to bind tightly to α-glucosidase. The results indicated that ß-14 possessed promising antidiabetic activity through simultaneously inhibiting α-glucosidases and free radicals.

New onoceranoid xyloside from Lansium parasiticum.

A novel onoceranoid triterpene xyloside named methyl lansioside C (1) together with two known glycosides (2 and 3) were isolated from polar fraction of the fruit peels of Lansium parasiticum. The structure and absolute configuration of the new compound were established using extensive spectroscopic techniques as well as Mosher's method. The antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1 and 3 displayed moderate radical scavenging activity with SC50 values of 14.5 and 13.7 mM, respectively. However, all isolated compounds exhibited no inhibition against α-glucosidase.

Identification of Pinocembrin as an Anti-Glycation Agent and α-Glucosidase Inhibitor from Fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda): The Tentative Structure⁻Activity Relationship towards MG-Trapping Activity.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease that is caused by a malfunction of carbohydrate metabolism, which plays an important role in the development of long-term diabetic complications. The excess glucose can be transformed to methylglyoxal (MG), a potential precursor of glycation. Glycation is a spontaneous non-enzymatic reaction that initially yields advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which ultimately triggers several severe complications. Therefore, the inhibition of AGEs formation is the imperative approach for alleviating diabetic complications. The aim of this research was to investigate the glycation and α-glucosidase inhibitory abilities of compounds isolated from fingerroot. The dichloromethane extract afforded three flavanones, two chalcones, two dihydrochalcones, and one kavalactone. Most of the isolated compounds showed higher inhibition effect against AGEs formation than aminoguanidine (AG). Subsequent evaluation in MG-trapping assay indicated that their trapping potency was relatively comparable to AG. Their structure-activity relationships (SAR) of MG-trapping activity were investigated using the comparison of the structures of flavonoids. In addition, pinocembrin displayed moderate α-glucosidase inhibition against both maltase and sucrose, with IC50 values of 0.35 ± 0.021 and 0.39 ± 0.020 mM, respectively.

Quercitol: From a Taxonomic Marker of the Genus Quercus to a Versatile Chiral Building Block of Antidiabetic Agents.

Quercitol is a cyclohexanepentol that has been recognized as a biomarker of plants in genus Quercus, which includes oak. As a result of its glucose-like structure, it has been introduced as an alternative chiral building block in the synthesis of several bioactive compounds. Our continuing investigations on the synthesis of antidiabetic agents from quercitol have demonstrated that this chiral synthon can generate diverse structural features with improved hypoglycemic activity.

A new 4-arylflavan from the pericarps of Horsfieldia motleyi displaying dual inhibition against α-glucosidase and free radicals.

In search for effective antidiabetic agents that simultaneously inhibit α-glucosidase and scavenge free radicals, Horsfieldia motleyi showed promising bioactivity according to the proposed criteria. Bioassay-guided isolation of pericarp extract yielded a new 4-arylflavan named myristinin G (6), whose gross structure and absolute configuration were verified by 2D NMR and electronic circular dichorism (ECD). Myristinin G (6) concomitantly inhibited α-glucosidases (IC50 107.0 and 126.9 µM) and free radicals (SC50 54.3 and 279.9 µM). Of interest, 6 inhibited sucrase through an uncompetitive manner, which is rare in nature.

Lamesticumin G, a new α-glucosidase inhibitor from the fruit peels of Lansium parasiticum.

A novel onoceranoid triterpene, named lamesticumin G (1) along with four known compounds (2-5) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fruit peels of Lansium parasiticum. The structure of lamesticumin G (1) was fully characterised using spectroscopic data. Lamesticumin G (1) inhibited α-glucosidase (maltase) with IC50 value of 2.27 mM, while 2-5 showed no inhibition.

Synthesis of furofuran lignans as antidiabetic agents simultaneously achieved by inhibiting α-glucosidase and free radical.

Furofuran lignans such as sesamin have been recognized as promising antidiabetic agents as they possess curative as well as preventive effects toward diabetes complications. However, to date the structure-activity relationship has not been investigated due to the lack of a practical synthetic route capable of producing diverse furofuran lignans. Herein, we first introduced a single-step synthesis of these compounds starting from samin (4). Reaction of samin with a variety of electron-rich phenolics under acidic conditions afforded a total of 23 diverse furofuran lignans. On examination their inhibitions against α-glucosidase and free radicals, lignans having a free hydroxy group showed considerably enhanced inhibition, compared with their corresponding starter 4 and related lignans sesamin (1) and sesamolin (3). In addition, the mechanism underlying the α-glucosidase inhibition of a particular active lignan (epi -6) was verified to be mixed manner between competitive and noncompetitive inhibition.

Voglibose-inspired synthesis of new potent α-glucosidase inhibitors N-1,3-dihydroxypropylaminocyclitols.

Voglibose, an N-1,3-dihydroxypropylaminocyclitol, has widely been used as an effective α-glucosidase inhibitor for diabetes therapy. Several attempts have been made to synthesize closely related analogues through the coupling of various aminocyclitols and propane-1,3-diol; however, most of them showed weaker or no inhibition. In this communication, we synthesized a pair of new N-1,3-dihydroxypropylaminocyclitols (10 and 11) using (+)-proto-quercitol (1) as a cyclitol core structure. The newly synthesized compounds revealed potent rat intestinal α-glucosidases, particularly against maltase, with IC50 values at submicromolar. Subsequent study on mechanisms underlying the inhibition of 11 indicated the competitive manner towards maltase and sucrase. The potent inhibition of these compounds was elaborated by docking study, in which their binding profiles towards key amino acid residues in the active site were similar to that of voglibose. Therefore, introduction of propane-1,3-diol moiety to suitable cyclohexane core structure such as aminoquercitol would be a potential approach to discover a new series of effective α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Antibiotic CJ-16,264.

The total synthesis and structural revision of antibiotic CJ-16,264 is described. Starting with citronellal, the quest for the target molecule featured a novel bis-transannular Diels-Alder reaction that casted stereoselectively the decalin system and included the synthesis of six isomers before demystification of its true structure.

N-Arylmethylaminoquercitols, a new series of effective antidiabetic agents having α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activity.

A new series of N-arylalkylaminoquercitols were synthesized by reductive amination of aminoquercitol bisacetonide 5 and a variety of aryl aldehydes. The targeted N-substituted aminoquercitols having phenolic moiety (7a-7c) displayed significantly enhanced α-glucosidase inhibition, which is 26-32 times more potent than that of the unmodified aminoquercitol 6. In addition, compounds 7a-7c also retained antioxidant activity with relatively more pronounced potency than their original phenolics. This recent finding suggests an approach to develop effective antidiabetic agents by incorporating antioxidative moiety into aminocyclitol core structure.

Amine-linked diquercitols as new α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Two new diastereomeric amine-linked diquercitols 7 and 8 were synthesized by reductive amination of ketoquercitol 4 and epimeric aminoquercitols 3 and 6. The ketone and amines were successfully prepared, without the formation of byproducts, from naturally available (+)-proto-quercitol (1). The amine-linked diquercitols showed inhibitory effect against α-glucosidases with more pronounced potency than their original aminoquercitol monomers.

Concise synthesis of (+)-conduritol F and inositol analogues from naturally available (+)-proto-quercitol and their glucosidase inhibitory activity.

An effective synthesis of (+)-conduritol F, (+)-chiro- and (+)-epi-inositols from naturally available (+)-proto-quercitol is described. This synthetic method provides a concise synthesis of cyclitols in enantiomerically pure form. Of the synthesized cyclitols, (+)-conduritol F potently inhibits type I α-glucosidase with an IC(50) value of 86.1 µM, which is five times greater than the standard antidiabetic drug, acarbose.

A new dimeric aporphine from the roots of Artabotrys spinosus.

A new dimeric aporphine, artabotrysine along with five known compounds was isolated from the roots of Artabotrys spinosus. Their structures were fully established on the basis of spectral evidence. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on HeLa and KB cells.