Pharmacokinetics of Paradol Analogues Orally Administered to Rats.

The kinetics parameters of paradols with different acyl chain lengths have been evaluated to determine their antiobesity site of action. Rats were orally administered olive oil containing 0-, 6-, 8-, or 12-paradol, and blood samples were collected at different time points. The concentrations of the paradols in the plasma were analyzed both with and without ß-glucuronidase treatment. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC(0-24h)) of the parent compounds decreased with increasing acyl chain length. Whereas 12-paradol showed the largest AUC(0-24h) with the longest time to reach its maximum plasma concentration of all of the compounds tested, the AUC(0-24h) values of the metabolites decreased with increasing acyl chain length. These results indicate that increasing acyl chain length leads to a decrease in the absorption of paradols via the intestinal tract, the wall of which was estimated to be their antiobesity site of action.

Metabolic characterization of meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid in liver microsomes and in mice.

meso-Dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA) is a major component of Myristica fragrans and Machilus thunbergii that is traditionally used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Despite reports of various biological activities exerted by MDGA, there is no information regarding its metabolic properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolic stability and cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitory potential of MDGA, using pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) to characterize its metabolic properties. In addition, pharmacokinetic analysis was performed in mice treated intravenously (5 mg/kg) or orally (20 mg/kg) with MDGA for comparison with our in vitro results. The half-life of MDGA in HLMs and mouse liver microsomes incubated with NADPH, UDPGA or NADPH plus UDPGA was 25.41 and 22.74, 0.39 and 0.20 or 0.28 and 0.22 min, respectively. In our pharmacokinetic study, MDGA rapidly declined in plasma and had low bioavailability, which was attributable to extensive metabolism by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and CYPs. Among CYP isoforms, CYP2E1 activity was selectively inhibited by MDGA through a competitive inhibitory mode, with an inhibitory constant (Ki) value of 13.1 µM. These results suggest that MDGA can be used as a selective CYP2E1 inhibitor in vitro, which warrants evaluation of the pharmacological significance of MDGA-induced CYP2E1 inhibition.

A novel AMPK activator reduces glucose uptake and inhibits tumor progression in a mouse xenograft model of colorectal cancer.

The anticancer activity of a novel pure 1,4-Diaryl-2-azetidinone (1), endowed with a higher solubility than the well known Combretastatin A4, is tested in mice. We previously reported that Compound (1) showed specific antiproliferative activity against duodenal and colon cancer cells, inducing activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and apoptosis. Here we estimate that the maximum tolerated dose in a mouse model is 40 mg/kg; the drug is well tolerated both in single dose and in repeated administration schedules. The drug displays a significant antitumor activity and a tumor growth delay when administered at the MTD both in single and fractionated i.v. administration in a mouse xenograft model of colorectal cancer. Arrest of tumor growth and relapse after drug suspension are parallel to modification in glucose demand as shown by PET studies with [(18)F] FDG. These data strongly support Compound (1) as a promising molecule for in vivo treatment of colorectal cancer.