ABSTRACT
In consideration of several serious side effects induced by the classical AF-2 involved "lock" mechanism, recently disclosed PPARγ-Ser273 phosphorylation mode of action has become an alternative and mainstream mechanism for currently PPARγ-based drug discovery and development with an improved therapeutic index. In this study, by virtue of structure-based virtual high throughput screening (SB-VHTS), structurally chemical optimization by targeting the inhibition of the PPARγ-Ser273 phosphorylation as well as in vitro biological evaluation, which led to the final identification of a chrysin-based potential hit (YGT-31) as a novel selective PPARγ modulator with potent binding affinity and partial agonism. Further in vivo evaluation demonstrated that YGT-31 possessed potent glucose-lowering and relieved hepatic steatosis effects without involving the TZD-associated side effects. Mechanistically, YGT-31 presented such desired therapeutic index, mainly because it effectively inhibited the CDK5-mediated PPARγ-Ser273 phosphorylation, selectively elevated the level of insulin sensitivity-related Glut4 and adiponectin but decreased the expression of insulin-resistance-associated genes PTP1B and SOCS3 as well as inflammation-linked genes IL-6, IL-1ß and TNFα. Finally, the molecular docking study was also conducted to uncover an interesting hydrogen-bonding network of YGT-31 with PPARγ-Ser273 phosphorylation-related key residues Ser342 and Glu343, which not only gave a clear verification for our targeting modification but also provided a proof of concept for the abovementioned molecular mechanism.
Subject(s)
Fatty Liver , Flavonoids , PPAR gamma , PPAR gamma/metabolism , PPAR gamma/agonists , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Structure-Activity Relationship , Fatty Liver/drug therapy , Fatty Liver/metabolism , Humans , Molecular Structure , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Animals , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemical synthesis , Molecular Docking Simulation , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Mice , Male , Drug Evaluation, PreclinicalABSTRACT
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease and is difficult to cure. In this work, a series of novel chrysin derivatives have been designed and prepared while evaluating anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, RAW264.7 cells were used to detect the inflammatory activities at first, and compounds 4h, 4k, and 4o significantly decreased the levels of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6. In particular, compound 4o showed superior anti-inflammatory activities than other compounds. Moreover, compound 4o decreased the level of IL-17A in LPS-induced HaCaT cells in vitro. The effect and mechanism of anti-inflammatory activities on psoriasis were determined by imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mice in vivo. Compound 4o deduced the level of IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, and TNF-α, and showed potent anti-psoriasis activity. Further mechanism study suggested that compound 4o could improve the skin inflammation of psoriasis by inhibiting the NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids , Psoriasis , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Psoriasis/chemically induced , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Animals , Mice , Humans , Structure-Activity Relationship , Molecular Structure , RAW 264.7 Cells , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Discovery , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Imiquimod , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemical synthesis , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
With the developing resistance to traditional antiparasitic medications, the purpose of this study was to efficiently develop a series of six noble flavanoidal tetrazinane-6'-one derivatives by a one-pot reaction pathway. FT-IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and Mass spectra were employed for the structural elucidation of the synthesized compounds (7-12). Clinostomum complanatum, a parasite infection model that has been well-established, demonstrated that all the synthesized compounds are potent antiparasitic agents. DNA is the main target for various medicinal compounds. As a result, thestudy of how small molecules attach to DNA has received a lot of attention. In the present study, we have performed various biophysical techniques to determine the mode of binding of synthesized compounds (7-12) with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA). It was observed from the UV-visible absorbance and fluorescence spectra that all synthesized compounds (7-12) form complexes with the ct-DNA. The value of binding constant (Kb) was obtained to be in the range of 4.36---24.50 × 103 M - 1 at 298 K. Competitive displacement assay with ethidium bromide (EB), CD spectral analysis, viscosity measurements, and in silico molecular docking confirmed that ligands (7-12) incorporate with ct-DNA through groove binding only. Molecular docking studies were performed for all synthesized compounds with the calf thymus DNA and it was found that all the newly synthesized compounds strongly bind with the chain B of DNA in the minor groove with the value of binding energy in the range of -8.54 to -9.04 kcal per mole and several hydrogen bonding interactions.
Subject(s)
DNA , Molecular Docking Simulation , Spectrometry, Fluorescence , DNA/metabolism , DNA/chemistry , Animals , Cattle , Antiparasitic Agents/pharmacology , Antiparasitic Agents/chemistry , Antiparasitic Agents/chemical synthesis , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared , Models, Molecular , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/metabolism , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Circular DichroismABSTRACT
Cycloicaritin (CICT), a bioactive flavonoid derived from the genus Epimedium, exhibits a variety of beneficial biological activities, including promising anticancer effects. However, its poor oral bioavailability is attributed to its extremely low aqueous solubility and rapid elimination via phase II conjugative metabolism. To overcome these limitations, we designed and synthesized a series of carbamate-bridged prodrugs, protecting the hydroxyl group at the 3-position of cycloicaritin by binding with the N-terminus of a natural amino acid. The optimal prodrug 4b demonstrated a significant increase in aqueous solubility as compared to CICT, as well as improved stability in phase II metabolism, while allowing for a rapid release of CICT in the blood upon gastrointestinal absorption. The prodrug 4b also facilitated oral absorption through organic anion-transporting polypeptide 2B1-mediated transport and exhibited moderate cytotoxicity. Importantly, the prodrug enhanced the oral bioavailability of CICT and displayed dose-dependent antitumor activity with superior safety. In summary, the prodrug 4b is a novel potential antitumor drug candidate, and the carbamate-bridged amino acid prodrug approach is a promising strategy for the oral delivery of CICT.
Subject(s)
Amino Acids , Antineoplastic Agents , Carbamates , Drug Design , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Prodrugs , Solubility , Prodrugs/chemical synthesis , Prodrugs/chemistry , Prodrugs/pharmacology , Humans , Carbamates/chemistry , Carbamates/pharmacology , Carbamates/chemical synthesis , Carbamates/pharmacokinetics , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Animals , Structure-Activity Relationship , Amino Acids/chemistry , Amino Acids/pharmacology , Amino Acids/chemical synthesis , Molecular Structure , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Mice , Water/chemistry , Cell Line, Tumor , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/pharmacokinetics , MaleABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive impairment and memory loss. In this study, AD was experimentally induced in rats using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and D-galactose (D-gal). Fisetin (Fis), a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has potential for neurodegeneration management, but its low bioavailability limits clinical applications. To address this, we synthesized and characterized Pluronic-2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (PLUR-PAMPS) nanogels using gamma radiation and successfully loaded Fis onto them (Fis-PLUR-PAMPS). The optimal formulation exhibited minimal particle size, a highly acceptable polydispersity index, and the highest zeta-potential, enhancing stability and solubilization efficiency. Our goal was to improve Fis's bioavailability and assess its efficacy against AlCl3/D-gal-induced AD. Male albino Wistar rats were pre-treated orally with Fis (40 mg/kg) or Fis-PLUR-PAMPS for seven days, followed by a seven-day intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 and D-gal. Behavioral assessments, histopathological analysis, and biochemical evaluation of markers related to AD pathology were conducted. Results demonstrated that Fis-PLUR-PAMPS effectively mitigated cognitive impairments and neurodegenerative signs induced by AlCl3/D-gal. These findings suggest that Fis-PLUR-PAMPS nanogels enhance Fis's bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy, offering a promising approach for AD management.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Apoptosis , Disease Models, Animal , Flavonols , Nanogels , Animals , Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Rats , Male , Flavonols/pharmacology , Flavonols/chemistry , Apoptosis/drug effects , Nanogels/chemistry , Poloxamer/chemistry , Rats, Wistar , Cognitive Dysfunction/drug therapy , Aluminum Chloride , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Galactose/chemistryABSTRACT
The flavonoid family is a set of well-known bioactive natural molecules, with a wide range of potential therapeutic applications. Despite the promising results obtained in preliminary in vitro/vivo studies, their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles are severely compromised by chemical instability. To address this issue, the scaffold-hopping approach is a promising strategy for the structural optimization of natural leads to discover more potent analogues. In this scenario, this Perspective provides a critical analysis on how the replacement of the chromon-4-one flavonoid core with other bioisosteric nitrogen/sulphur heterocycles might affect the chemical, pharmaceutical and biological properties of the resulting new chemical entities. The investigated derivatives were classified on the basis of their biological activity and potential therapeutic indications. For each session, the target(s), the specific mechanism of action, if available, and the key pharmacophoric moieties were highlighted, as revealed by X-ray crystal structures and in silico structure-based studies. Biological activity data, in vitro/vivo studies, were examined: a particular focus was given on the improvements observed with the new heterocyclic analogues compared to the natural flavonoids. This overview of the scaffold-hopping advantages in flavonoid compounds is of great interest to the medicinal chemistry community to better exploit the vast potential of these natural molecules and to identify new bioactive molecules.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids , Heterocyclic Compounds , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Humans , Heterocyclic Compounds/chemistry , Heterocyclic Compounds/pharmacology , Heterocyclic Compounds/chemical synthesis , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical , Biological Products/chemistry , Biological Products/pharmacology , Biological Products/chemical synthesis , Molecular Structure , Structure-Activity Relationship , AnimalsABSTRACT
Stereoselective synthesis is essential for propelling mainstream academia toward a relentless pursuit of novel and cutting-edge strategies for constructing molecules with unparalleled precision. Naturally derived benzopyrans, benzopyrones, and flavonoids are an essentially prominent group of oxa-heterocycles, highly significant targets in medicinal chemistry owing to their extensive abundance in biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals. The molecular complexity and stereoselectivity induced by heterocycles embedded with C-glycosides have attracted considerable interest and emerged as a fascinating area of research for synthetic organic chemists. This present article emphasizes the existing growths in the strategies involving the diastereoselective synthesis of C-glycosylated benzopyrans, benzopyrones, and flavonoids using naturally acquired glycones as chiral synthons.
Subject(s)
Benzopyrans , Biological Products , Flavonoids , Glycosides , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Stereoisomerism , Benzopyrans/chemistry , Benzopyrans/chemical synthesis , Biological Products/chemical synthesis , Biological Products/chemistry , Glycosides/chemistry , Glycosides/chemical synthesis , Pyrones/chemistry , Pyrones/chemical synthesis , Glycosylation , Molecular StructureABSTRACT
The search for new substances of natural origin, such as flavonoids, is necessary in the fight against the growing number of diseases and bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In our research, we wanted to check the influence of flavonoids with chlorine or bromine atoms and a nitro group on pathogenic and probiotic bacteria. We synthesized flavonoids using Claisen-Schmidt condensation and its modifications, and through biotransformation via entomopathogenic filamentous fungi, we obtained their glycoside derivatives. Biotransformation yielded two new flavonoid glycosides: 8-amino-6-chloroflavone 4'-O-ß-D-(4â³-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside and 6-bromo-8-nitroflavone 4'-O-ß-D-(4â³-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside. Subsequently, we checked the antimicrobial properties of the aforementioned aglycon flavonoid compounds against pathogenic and probiotic bacteria and yeast. Our studies revealed that flavones have superior inhibitory effects compared to chalcones and flavanones. Notably, 6-chloro-8-nitroflavone showed potent inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria. Conversely, flavanones 6-chloro-8-nitroflavanone and 6-bromo-8-nitroflavanone stimulated the growth of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Pediococcus pentosaceus). Our research has shown that the presence of chlorine, bromine, and nitro groups has a significant effect on their antimicrobial properties.
Subject(s)
Biotransformation , Bromine , Chlorine , Flavonoids , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Chlorine/chemistry , Bromine/chemistry , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/chemical synthesis , Bacteria/drug effects , Bacteria/growth & development , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistryABSTRACT
Inflammation is the body's defense response to stimuli. When the homeostatic balance is disturbed, disease may result. Flavonoids have clear anti-inflammatory effects and the isopentenyl group significantly enhances the pharmacological activity of flavonoids. Therefore, isopentenyl flavonoids have the potential to serve as lead compounds for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs. Throughout this research, eight natural compounds were synthesized, including 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-8-prenylflavonoid (1), 4'-O-Methylatalantoflavone (2), Kushenol W (3) and Racemoflavone (5), which were totally synthesized for the first time. Additionally, three flavonols: Licoflavonol (6), 3,5,7,3',4'-pentahydroxy-6-prenylflavonol (7) and Macarangin (8), can be one-step synthesized by direct C-isopentenylation. In the process, an economical and efficient C-isopentenylation method was also simultaneously explored that could facilitate the efficient synthesis of natural products. These compounds were evaluated for their potential anti-inflammatory activities via the NLRP3 signaling pathway. Notably, Macarangin (8) manifested the most potent inhibitory effect. The SAR (Structure-Activity Relationships) also showed the introduction of the isopentenyl group was determined to enhance these effects, whereas simple flavonoid frameworks or cyclization of isopentenyl groups all diminished anti-inflammatory activity.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids , Inflammasomes , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/antagonists & inhibitors , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Inflammasomes/metabolism , Inflammasomes/drug effects , Structure-Activity Relationship , Molecular Structure , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemical synthesis , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Animals , Biological Products/pharmacology , Biological Products/chemistry , Biological Products/chemical synthesis , Mice , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , HumansABSTRACT
With the increasing aging population, rational design of drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment has become an important research area. Based on the multifunctional design strategy, four diosmetin derivatives (1-4) were designed, synthesized, and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS. Docking study was firstly applied to substantiate the design strategies and then the biological activities including cholinesterase inhibition, metal chelation, antioxidation and ß-amyloid (Aß) aggregation inhibition in vitro were evaluated. The results showed that 1-4 had good acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition, metal chelation (selective chelation of Cu2+ ions), antioxidation, self-induced, Cu2+-induced, and AChE-induced Aß aggregation inhibition activities, and suitable blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Especially, compound 3 had the strongest inhibitory effect on AChE (10-8 M magnitude) and BuChE (10-7 M magnitude) and showed the best inhibition on AChE-induced Aß aggregation with 66.14% inhibition ratio. Furthermore, compound 3 could also reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in Caenorhabditis elegans and had lower cytotoxicity. In summary, 3 might be considered as a potential multifunctional anti-AD ligand.
Subject(s)
Acetylcholinesterase , Alzheimer Disease , Amyloid beta-Peptides , Blood-Brain Barrier , Butyrylcholinesterase , Caenorhabditis elegans , Cholinesterase Inhibitors , Drug Design , Flavonoids , Molecular Docking Simulation , Reactive Oxygen Species , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemistry , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/metabolism , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Animals , Butyrylcholinesterase/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/antagonists & inhibitors , Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects , Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism , Ligands , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Humans , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemical synthesis , Structure-Activity Relationship , Protein Aggregates/drug effectsABSTRACT
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) cause more than 100,000 deaths each year, which need efficient and non-resistant antibacterial agents. SAR analysis of 162 flavonoids from the plant in this paper suggested that lipophilic group at C-3 was crucial, and then 63 novel flavonoid derivatives were designed and total synthesized. Among them, the most promising K15 displayed potent bactericidal activity against clinically isolated MRSA and VRE (MICs = 0.25-1.00 µg/mL) with low toxicity and high membrane selectivity. Moreover, mechanism insights revealed that K15 avoided resistance by disrupting biofilm and targeting the membrane, while vancomycin caused 256 times resistance against MRSA, and ampicillin caused 16 times resistance against VRE by the same 20 generations inducing. K15 eliminated residual bacteria in mice skin MRSA-infected model (>99 %) and abdominal VRE-infected model (>92 %), which was superior to vancomycin and ampicillin.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Flavonoids , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis , Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/drug effects , Animals , Mice , Structure-Activity Relationship , Molecular Structure , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , HumansABSTRACT
Despite the significant outcomes attained by scientific research, breast cancer (BC) still represents the second leading cause of death in women. Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) BC accounts for the majority of diagnosed BCs, highlighting the disruption of estrogenic signalling as target for first-line treatment. This goal is presently pursued by inhibiting aromatase (AR) enzyme or by modulating Estrogen Receptor (ER) α. An appealing strategy for fighting BC and reducing side effects and resistance issues may lie in the design of multifunctional compounds able to simultaneously target AR and ER. In this paper, previously reported flavonoid-related potent AR inhibitors were suitably modified with the aim of also targeting ERα. As a result, homoisoflavone derivatives 3b and 4a emerged as well-balanced submicromolar dual acting compounds. An extensive computational study was then performed to gain insights into the interactions the best compounds established with the two targets. This study highlighted the feasibility of switching from single-target compounds to balanced dual-acting agents, confirming that a multi-target approach may represent a valid therapeutic option to counteract ER+ BC. The homoisoflavone core emerged as a valuable natural-inspired scaffold for the design of multifunctional compounds.
Subject(s)
Aromatase Inhibitors , Aromatase , Breast Neoplasms , Drug Design , Estrogen Receptor alpha , Flavonoids , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/enzymology , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Aromatase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Aromatase Inhibitors/chemistry , Aromatase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Humans , Female , Estrogen Receptor alpha/antagonists & inhibitors , Estrogen Receptor alpha/chemistry , Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Aromatase/chemistry , Aromatase/metabolism , Thermodynamics , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Molecular Docking SimulationABSTRACT
The efficient total synthesis of anti-tumor natural product pongaflavone (1) was described starting from commercially available 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (9) via seven steps and in 16% overall yield. Its two natural analogues pongachromene (2) and 7,8-(2",2"-dimethylpyrano)-5,3',4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (3) were also synthesized following the similar procedure with the yields of 11% and 18%, respectively. Their preliminary anti-tumor activities were evaluated by the inhibition effect on A549 cells. The result showed that this kind of natural products exhibited different levels of anti-tumor activity. Among them, pongachromene (2) displayed the best anti-tumor activity.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Flavonoids , Flavonoids/chemical synthesisABSTRACT
Natural flavonoids, in addition to some of their synthetic derivatives, are recognized for their remarkable medicinal properties. The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antistress effect of synthetic flavonoids (flavones and flavonols) in mice, where stress was induced by injecting acetic acid and physically through swimming immobilization. Among the synthesized flavones (F1-F6) and flavonols (OF1-OF6), the mono para substituted methoxy containing F3 and OF3 exhibited maximum scavenging potential against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) with IC50 of 31.46 ± 1.46 µg/mL and 25.54 ± 1.21 µg/mL, respectively. Minimum antioxidant potential was observed for F6 and OF6 with IC50 values of 174.24 ± 2.71 µg/mL and 122.33 ± 1.98 µg/mL, respectively, in comparison with tocopherol. The ABTS scavenging activity of all the synthesized flavones and flavonols were significantly higher than observed with DPPH assay, indicating their potency as good antioxidants and the effectiveness of ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) assay in evaluating antioxidant potentials of chemical substances. The flavonoids-treated animals showed a significant (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001, n = 8) reduction in the number of writhes and an increase in swimming endurance time. Stressful conditions changed plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which were used as markers when evaluating stress in animal models. The level of these markers was nearly brought to normal when pre-treated with flavones and flavonols (10 mg/kg) for fifteen days in experimental animals. These compounds also considerably reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), which was significant (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001, n = 8) compared to the control group. A significant rise in the level of catalase and SOD (super oxide dismutase) was also observed in the treated groups. Diazepam (2 mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. Additionally, the flavonoids markedly altered the weight of the adrenal glands, spleen and brain in stress-induced mice. The findings of the study suggest that these flavonoids could be used as a remedy for stress and are capable of ameliorating diverse physiological and biochemical alterations associated with stressful conditions. However, further experiments are needed to confirm the observed potentials in other animal models, especially in those with a closer resemblance to humans. Toxicological evaluations are also equally important.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Stress, Physiological/drug effects , Stress, Psychological/drug therapy , Animals , Antioxidants/chemical synthesis , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Biomarkers , Flavones/chemistry , Flavonols/chemistry , Mice , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolismABSTRACT
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Moreover, exploring efficient tumor-killing drugs is urgently needed. In our study, several derivative compounds of myricetin were synthesized and tested. Experiments on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed that S4-2-2 (5,7-dimethoxy-3-(4-(methyl(1-(naphthalen-2-ylsulfonyl)piperidin-4-yl)amino)butoxy)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one) had the strongest effect on A549 cell inhibition across all compounds. Furthermore, S4-2-2-treated A549 cells were also suppressed when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Particularly, we found that the migration and invasiveness of A549 cells became suppressed upon treatment with S4-2-2. Furthermore, the compound significantly induced cell apoptosis, but did not affect the cell cycle of A549 cells. Finally, we revealed that S4-2-2 inhibited the biological function of NSCLC cells by regulating the protein process in the endoplasmic reticulum, and then by inducing the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Taken together, S4-2-2 was shown to act as a potential molecular inhibitor of A549 cells.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , A549 Cells , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Apoptosis/drug effects , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Cell Cycle/drug effects , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/chemistry , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Mice , Xenograft Model Antitumor AssaysABSTRACT
The upregulation of adiponectin production has been suggested as a novel strategy for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Galangin, a natural flavonoid, exhibited adiponectin synthesis-promoting activity during adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In target identification, galangin bound both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ and estrogen receptor (ER) ß. Novel galangin derivatives were synthesized to improve adiponectin synthesis-promoting compounds by increasing the PPARγ activity of galangin and reducing its ERß activity, because PPARγ functions can be inhibited by ERß. Three galangin 3-benzyl-5-methylether derivatives significantly promoted adiponectin production by 2.88-, 4.47-, and 2.76-fold, respectively, compared to the effect of galangin. The most potent compound, galangin 3-benzyl-5,7-dimethylether, selectively bound to PPARγ (Ki, 1.7 µM), whereas it did not bind to ERß. Galangin 3-benzyl-5,7-dimethylether was identified as a PPARγ partial agonist in docking and pharmacological competition studies, suggesting that it may have diverse therapeutic potential in a variety of metabolic diseases.
Subject(s)
Adiponectin/biosynthesis , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , PPAR gamma/agonists , Cells, Cultured , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/chemistry , Humans , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemical synthesis , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Structure , PPAR gamma/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
Flavonoids are widely distributed in plants and constitute the most common polyphenolic phytoconstituents in the human diet. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory activity of 44 different flavonoids (1-44) against mushroom tyrosinase was studied, and an in silico study and type of inhibition for the most active compounds were evaluated too. Tyrosinase inhibitors block melanogenesis and take part in melanin production or distribution leading to pigmentation diseases. The in vitro study showed that quercetin was a competitive inhibitor (IC50=44.38 ± 0.13 µM) and achieved higher antityrosinase activity than the control inhibitor kojic acid. The in silico results highlight the importance of the flavonoid core with a hydroxyl at C7 as a strong contributor of interference with tyrosinase activity. According to the developed statistical model, the activity of molecules depends on hydroxylation at C3 and methylation at C8, C7, and C3 in the benzo-γ-pyrane ring of the flavonoids.
Subject(s)
Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Agaricales/enzymology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/chemistry , Humans , Models, Molecular , Molecular Structure , Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
Icaritin is an active ingredient in Epimedium, which has a variety of pharmacological activities. However, the low activity of Icaritin and the unclear target greatly limit its application. Therefore, based on the structure of Icaritin, we adopted the strategy of replacing toxic groups and introducing active groups to design and synthesize a series of new analogues. The top compound C3 exhibited better antimultiple myeloma activity with an IC50 of 1.09 µM for RPMI 8226 cells, induced RPMI 8226 apoptosis, and blocked the cell cycle in the S phase. Importantly, transcriptome analysis, cellular thermal shift assay, and microscale thermophoresis assay confirmed that DEPTOR was the target of C3. Moreover, we explored its binding mode with C3. Especially, C3 displayed satisfactory inhibition of tumor growth in RPMI 8226 xenografts without obvious side effects. In summary, C3 was discovered as a novel putative inhibitor of DEPTOR for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Drug Design , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Epimedium/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/chemistry , Humans , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Molecular Structure , Multiple Myeloma/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to develop mixed polymeric micelles with high drug loading capacity to improve the oral bioavailability of icaritin with Soluplus® and Poloxamer 407 using a creative acid-base shift (ABS) method, which exhibits the advantages of exclusion of organic solvents, high drug loading and ease of scaling-up. The feasibility of the ABS method was successfully demonstrated by studies of icaritin-loaded polymeric micelles (IPMs). The prepared IPMs were characterized to have a spherical shape with a size of 72.74 ± 0.51 nm, and 13.18% drug loading content. In vitro release tests confirmed the faster release of icaritin from IPMs compared to an oil suspension. Furthermore, bioavailability of icaritin in IPMs in beagle dogs displayed a 14.9-fold increase when compared with the oil suspension. Transcellular transport studies of IPMs across Caco-2 cell monolayers confirmed that the IPMs were endocytosed in their intact forms through macropinocytosis, clathrin-, and caveolae-mediated pathways. In conclusion, the results suggested that the mixed micelles of Soluplus® and Poloxamer 407 could be a feasible drug delivery system to enhance oral bioavailability of icaritin, and the ABS method might be a promising technology for the preparation of polymeric micelles to encapsulate poorly water-soluble weakly acidic and alkaline drugs.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids/administration & dosage , Poloxamer/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyvinyls/chemistry , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Administration, Oral , Animals , Biological Availability , Caco-2 Cells , Caveolae/metabolism , Clathrin/metabolism , Dogs , Feasibility Studies , Flavonoids/chemical synthesis , Flavonoids/pharmacokinetics , Humans , Male , Micelles , Nanoparticles , Particle SizeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Natural products have been universally approached in the research of novel trends useful to detail the essential paths of the life sciences and as a strategy for pharmacotherapeutics. OBJECTIVE: This work focuses on further modification to the 6-hydroxy-flavanone building block aiming to obtain improved BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors. METHODS: Ether derivatives were obtained from Williamson synthesis and triazole from Microwave- assisted click reaction. Chemical structures were finely characterized through IR, 1H and 13C NMR and HRMS. They were tested for their inhibitory activity against BCR-ABL kinase. RESULTS: Two inhibitors bearing a triazole ring as a pharmacophoric bridge demonstrated the strongest kinase inhibition at IC50 value of 364 nM (compound 3j) and 275 nM (compound 3k). CONCLUSION: 6-hydroxy-flavanone skeleton can be considered as a promising core for BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors.