Cardiovascular effects of new water-soluble derivatives of forskolin.

A series of 6- and 7-aminoacyl derivatives of 7-deacetylforskolin was prepared to provide water-soluble derivatives of the potent cardioactive diterpenoid forskolin. The compounds were evaluated for positive inotropic and blood pressure lowering properties in pharmacological models. Several derivatives displayed potent positive inotropic activity in guinea pig atria (EC50 = 0.16-3.0 micrograms/mL). In the most active compounds, the amino moiety of the aminoacyl chain corresponded to a cyclic amine, and the acyl moiety to a C2-C4 alkanoyl group. In vivo biological evaluation led to the selection of 6-(piperidinoacetyl)-7-deacetylforskolin hydrochloride (49) as a candidate for clinical development.

Aranorosin, a novel antibiotic from Pseudoarachniotus roseus. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, chemical and biological properties.

A novel antibiotic, aranorosin, was isolated from the fermentation broth of a new fungal isolate identified as Pseudoarachniotus roseus. The antibiotic showed a wide spectrum of activity.

Aranorosin, a novel antibiotic from Pseudoarachniotus roseus. II. Structure elucidation.

Aranorosin, a new antifungal antibiotic, has been isolated from the culture filtrate and mycelium of a strain of Pseudoarachniotus roseus Kuehn. The antibiotic, C23H33NO6, contains a novel 1-oxaspiro[4,5]decane ring system. The structure (I) has been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analysis.

Swalpamycin, a new macrolide antibiotic. II. Structure elucidation.

A new antibiotic swalpamycin (1) has been isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. Y-84,30967. The antibiotic has the molecular formula of C37H56O14 and belongs to the class of 16-membered neutral macrolide antibiotics. Its structure has been elucidated by an analysis of its spectral properties. It contains a novel aglycone herein called swalpanolide.

Mersacidin, a new antibiotic from Bacillus. Fermentation, isolation, purification and chemical characterization.

Mersacidin (1) is a new peptide antibiotic containing beta-methyllanthionine. It is classified as a member of the proposed lantibiotic group of antibiotics, and is produced by a species of Bacillus. Mersacidin has a molecular weight of 1,824 (C80H120N20O21S4). The antibiotic is active against Gram-positive organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but has no activity against Gram-negative bacteria or fungi.

Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by water-soluble analogues of forskolin.

Analogues of forskolin that are more soluble in water than forskolin have been synthesized and tested for their ability to interact with adenylate cyclase. These analogues are esterified with various heterocyclic amino acids at the 6 beta-hydroxyl position of forskolin or at the 6 beta-hydroxyl or 7 beta-hydroxyl position of 7-desacetyl forskolin. Analogues were tested for their ability to activate rat brain adenylate cyclase, activate detergent-solubilized rat brain adenylate cyclase, increase cyclic AMP in intact S49 wild-type cells, and inhibit the binding of 3H-forskolin to rat brain membranes. Forskolin activated rat brain adenylate cyclase with an EC50 of 4 microM and increased cyclic AMP in intact S49 cells with an EC50 of 5 microM. Analogues esterified at the 7 beta-hydroxyl position had EC50 values that ranged from 4 microM to 15 microM for activating adenylate cyclase in membranes and solubilized preparations, and for increasing cyclic AMP in S49 cells. Analogues esterified at the 6 beta-hydroxyl position with no acyl group at the 7 beta-hydroxyl position were generally less potent than the corresponding 7-acyl analogues with EC50 values that ranged from 30 microM to 100 microM. Interestingly, the diacyl analogues of forskolin containing an acetate group at the 7 beta-hydroxyl position and esterified with heterocyclic amino acids at the 6 beta-hydroxyl position were very potent at stimulating adenylate cyclase, with EC50 values that ranged from 1 microM to 25 microM. The 7-acyl analogues and the 6,7-diacyl analogues inhibited the binding of 3H-forskolin to rat brain membranes with IC50 values that ranged from 20 microM to 70 microM, while the 6-acyl analogues had much higher IC50 values that ranged from 100 nM to 375 nM. Aqueous solutions of forskolin were also produced by dissolving forskolin in solutions of hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin. These aqueous solutions of forskolin were equipotent with alcoholic solutions of forskolin in stimulating adenylate cyclase. In conclusion, water-soluble derivatives of forskolin may be useful for increasing cyclic AMP in broken cell preparations or in intact cell preparations where the presence of organic solvents, which are necessary to solubilize forskolin, are detrimental. Alternatively, aqueous solutions of forskolin can be produced by dissolving forskolin in solutions of hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin.