Biosurfactants in cosmetics and biopharmaceuticals.

Biosurfactants are surface-active biomolecules that are produced by various micro-organisms. They show unique properties i.e. lower toxicity, higher biodegradability and environmental compatibility compared to their chemical counterparts. Glycolipids and lipopeptides have prompted application in biotechnology and cosmetics due to their multi-functional profile i.e. detergency, emulsifying, foaming and skin hydrating properties. Additionally, some of them can be served as antimicrobials. In this study the current status of research and development on rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, mannosyloerythritol lipids, trehalipids, xylolipids and lipopeptides particularly their commercial application in cosmetics and biopharmaceuticals, is described.

Antitumor activity of imidazothioxanthones in murine and human tumor models in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: A new series of imidazothioxanthones has recently been synthesized as potential anticancer agents with the aim of overcoming drug resistance. The route of synthesis and DNA-binding properties of the compounds were reported previously. This paper describes the general structure-activity relationships for the class of imidazothioxanthones in panels of human and murine tumor cell lines in vitro, and the in vivo activity against human and murine solid tumors of the most potent compound, N-[3-(Dimethylamino)propylo]-11-oxo-11H-benzothiopyrano [3',2':2,3]pyrido[1,2-a]imidazo-2-carboxamide (10a). In addition, the interaction between compound 10a and DNA is also considered in terms of molecular mechanics methods and flexible docking techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxicity of compounds 10a, 11-oxo-N-[2-(pyrrolidino)ethylo]-11H-benzothiopyrano [3',2':2,3]pyrido[1,2-a]imidazo-2-carboxamide, 11-oxo-N-[2-(piperidino)ethylo]-11H-benzothiopyrano [3',2':2,3]pyrido[1,2-a]imidazo-2-carboxamide and N-[2-(morpholino)ethylo]-11-oxo-11H-benzothiopyrano [3',2':2,3]pyrido[1,2-a]imidazo-2-carboxamide (10c-10e) was assessed in human tumor cell lines and xenografts using the sulforhodamine B assay, MTT assay and the clonogenic assay. The human ovarian xenograft, PXN/109TC, two human breast carcinomas, MT-1 and MCF-7, and the murine colon adenocarcinoma, MAC15A were used for the in vivo testing of compound 10a. In addition, the interaction between compound 10a and DNA is also considered in terms of molecular mechanics methods and flexible docking techniques. RESULTS: Two compounds, 10a and 10c, showed cytotoxic activity below 10 mM in the NCI in vitro screen of 60 human tumor cell lines. The IC50 value of compound 10a was 6.8 mM and that of 10c, 8.3 mM. In addition, both compounds possessed differential activity against leukemia, colon and mammary cancer. The activity pattern was confirmed in two further screens using monolayer and clonogenic, assays. In vivo antitumor studies showed that 10a was active against the human mammary carcinoma MT-1 and murine colon cancer MAC15A. Marginal activity was observed in human ovarian cancer model PXN/109T/C and the compound was inactive in human mammary cancer MCF-7. CONCLUSION: The results warrant further in vivo testing of 10a in additional human solid tumor models. The molecular modeling showed that the planarity of the chromophore and the side-chain conformation could assist the insertion of compound 10a between the base pairs of the double helix. On the other hand, docking to the nucleotide sequence GGAATTGCCTCA suggested that the molecule could also act as a minor groove binder.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel beta-substituted indol-3-yl ethylamido melatoninergic analogues.

A series of new melatonin analogues have been synthesized. Interestingly, two of the new compounds, 11c and 11e, which did not show any appreciable affinity for the melatonin receptor, were found to be potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Analogue 11c, in particular, is a better antioxidant than melatonin.

Synthesis, antiretroviral and antioxidant evaluation of a series of new benzo[b]furan derivatives.

The antiretroviral and anti-oxidant profile of a series of new C-2 and C-7 substituted benzo[b]furans was explored by employing well established antiviral and antioxidant protocols. The most potent antioxidant compound tested was analog 7, which bears an OH at C-7 and a benzoyl group at C-2. In the influenza A type H3N2 virus screens analog 8a was almost five-fold more active than its counterparts and equipotent to rimantadine and amantadine. In the influenza B screening all of the new compounds tested were at least ten-fold more active than the control drug amantadine. The anti-HIV screening, using acutely infected MT-4 cells, showed that compound 8f (n = 4), was fifteen-fold more active than its monomer congeners, 8a and 8c, d and almost five-fold more potent than monomer 8b and dimer 8f (n = 3).

Synthesis of oxypropanolamine derivatives of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine, beta-adrenergic affinity, inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating activities.

Aseries of oxypropanolamine derivatives of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine were synthesized and evaluated for inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating activities in the canine heart, affinity to beta(1)-adrenergic receptor in turkey erythrocytes and affinity to the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor in the rat lung. Among these compounds, 4-acetyl-6-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 2.1-fold more potent affinity to the beta(1) receptor than propranolol and 7-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-N-butyryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 2.5-fold more potent affinity to the beta(2) receptor and furthermore 4386-fold more potent selectivity to the beta(2) receptor than propranolol. In addition, 4-acetyl-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino-2-hydroxy]propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine showed 1.1-fold more potent affinity to the beta(1) receptor than propranolol and also 1147-fold more potent selectivity to the beta(1) receptor. With a few exceptions, negative inotropic and chronotropic actions of these compounds were dependent on the size of the 4-substituent obeying the order: unsubstituted < acetyl < propanoyl < butanoyl, while the benzoyl substituent conferred even stronger negative actions in the 6-oxypropanolamine derivatives. Neither negative inotropic and chronotropic actions related with affinity to beta(1)-adrenoceptor nor coronary vasodilator action related with affinity to beta(2)-adrenoceptor were observed. 4-acetyl-7-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino-2-hydroxy]propoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine exerted potent positive inotropic, chronotropic and coronary vasodilating actions. The inotropic and chronotropic actions of the latter compound may be attributed to the release of intrinsic catecholamines, as concluded by the absence of beta(1)-adrenoceptor affinity and disappearance of activity in the presence of a beta-blocker.