RESUMO
Structural diversity characterizes natural products as prototypes for design of lead compounds. The aim of this study was to synthetize, and to evaluate the toxicity and antitumor action of a new piperine analogue, the butyl 4-(4-nitrobenzoate)-piperinoate (DE-07). Toxicity was evaluated against zebrafish, and in mice (acute and micronucleus assays). To evaluate the DE-07 antitumor activity Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model was used in mice. Angiogenesis, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production and cytokines levels were investigated. Ninety-six hours exposure to DE-07 did not cause morphological or developmental changes in zebrafish embryos and larvae, with estimated LC50 (lethal concentration 50%) higher than 100 µg/mL. On the acute toxicity assay in mice, LD50 (lethal dose 50%) was estimated at around 1000 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.). DE-07 (300 mg/kg, i.p.) did not induce increase in the number of micronucleated erythrocytes in mice, suggesting no genotoxicity. On Ehrlich tumor model, DE-07 (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) induced a significant decrease on cell viability. In addition, there was an increase on ROS production and a decrease in peritumoral microvessels density. Moreover, DE-07 induced an increase of cytokines levels involved in oxidative stress and antiangiogenic effect (IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-4). No significant clinical toxicological effects were recorded in Ehrlich tumor transplanted animals. These data provide evidence that DE-07 presents low toxicity, and antitumor effect via oxidative and antiangiogenic actions by inducing modulation of inflammatory response in the tumor microenvironment.
