Synthetic Applications of Prins Cyclization in Natural Product Syntheses.

The natural products having tetrahydropyran unit with multiple chiral centers serve as magnificent building blocks for various active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). 'Prins cyclization is one of the wonderful strategies to construct tetrahydropyran unit stereoselectively in asymmetric synthesis. In this account, we discuss our research efforts toward the synthesis of various natural products from the past two decades (2005-2020) by using Prins cyclization as a key step. Further, the synthetic utility of this reaction was investigated and well demonstrated on various molecules successfully.

Desymmetrisation of meso-2,4-Dimethyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-6-ene-3-ol and its Application in Natural Product Syntheses.

The compounds containing chiral centers and different functional groups serve as magnificent building blocks for the preparation of various natural products that are having immense biological activity. "Dimethyl-8-oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol" is one of the wonderful synthons to construct multiple stereo centers at a time during the asymmetric synthesis. In this account, we discuss our research efforts toward the synthesis of various simple and complex natural products from the past three decades (1995-2020) by using dimethyl-8-oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol as a synthon. Moreover, the synthetic utility of this starting material was investigated and well demonstrated. Further, we executed the desymmetrization of dimethyl-8-oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol by hydroboration to get different chiral centers. After obtaining the stereocenters, we could manage either the fragment, formal or total synthesis of natural products, by simple protection and deprotection sequence followed by C-C bond formation steps.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Auranamide and Patriscabratine-Mechanisms and In Silico Studies.

Auranamide and patriscabratine are amides from Melastoma malabathricum (L.) Smith. Their anti-inflammatory activity and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation ability were evaluated using Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPSEc)-stimulated murine macrophages (RAW264.7) and murine hepatoma (Hepa-1c1c7) cells, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) production and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-1ß, Interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6) and mediators (NF-κB and COX-2). NRF2 activation was determined by measuring the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), nuclear NRF2 and hemeoxygenase (HO)-1. In vitro metabolic stability was assessed using the mouse, rat, and human liver microsomes. The compounds were non-toxic to the cells at 10 µM. Both compounds showed dose-dependent effects in downregulating NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators. The compounds also showed upregulation of NQO1 activity and nuclear NRF2 and HO-1 levels. The compounds were metabolically stable in mouse, rat and human liver microsomes. The possible molecular targets of NRF2 activation by these two compounds were predicted using molecular docking studies and it was found that the compounds might inhibit the Kelch domain of KEAP1 and GSK-3ß activity. The physicochemical and drug-like properties of the test compounds were predicted using Schrodinger small molecule drug discovery suite (v.2022-2).

Synthesis of New Shogaol Analogues as NRF2 Activators and Evaluation of Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Modes of Action and Metabolic Stability.

6-shogaol is a natural and the most potent bioactive vanilloid in dried Zingiber officinale rhizomes. Many scientific studies have reported the diverse biological activities of 6-shogaol. However, the major drawback of 6-shogaol is its instability at room temperature. We synthesised new shogaol thiophene compounds (STCs) by replacing the pentyl group in the sidechain with thiophene derivatives. The STCs were tested for their nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation ability in murine hepatoma cells (Hepa1c1c-7) by determining their NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) inducing ability and expression of NRF2-associated antioxidant genes. The anti-inflammatory activity of STCs was determined in Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPSEc)-stimulated NR2-proficient and -silenced mouse microglial cells (BV-2) by measuring the inflammatory markers, cytokines, and mediators. The modes of action (interacting with the Kelch domain of KEAP1, covalent bonding with cysteines of KEAP1, and inhibition of GSK-3ß enzyme activity) of NRF2 activation by STCs were determined using commercially available kits. The in vitro metabolic stability of the STCs in liver microsomes (humans, rats, and mice) was also investigated. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted to identify the binding poses, stability, and molecular interactions of the STCs in the binding pockets of Kelch and BTB domains of KEAP1 and GSK-3ß enzyme. The new STCs were synthesised in good yields of > 85%, with a purity of about 95%, using a novel synthesis method by employing a reusable proline-proline dipeptide catalyst. The STCs are more potent than 6-shogaol in activating NRF2 and reducing inflammation. The nature of substituents on thiophene has a profound influence on the bioactivity of the STCs. Phenylthiophene STC (STC5) is the most potent, while thiophenes containing electron-withdrawing groups showed weaker bioactivity. The bioactivity of 6-shogaol is in the micromolar range, whereas STC5 showed bioactivity in the sub micromolar range. The STCs showed anti-inflammatory effects via NRF2-dependent and NRF2-independent mechanisms. The STCs improved NRF2 activity through multiple (KEAP1-independent and -dependent) mechanisms. The STCs showed decreased reactivity with thiols than 6-shogaol and thus may possess fewer side-effects than 6-shogaol. The STCs were more metabolically stable than 6-shogaol.

Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 2-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-Derived NRF2 Activators.

This is the first study investigating the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) activity of compounds containing a new scaffold, tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene. Eighteen compounds were synthesised and confirmed their NRF2 activation through NQO1 enzymatic activity and mRNA expression of NQO1 and HO-1 in Hepa-1c1c7 cells. The compounds disrupted the interaction between Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and NRF2 via interfering with the KEAP1's Kelch domain. The compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide (LPSEc )-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was associated with their ability to activate NRF2. The compounds reversed the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and inflammatory mediators (PGE2, COX-2, and NF-κB). The compounds were metabolically stable in human, rat, and mouse liver microsomes and showed optimum half-life (T1/2 ) and intrinsic clearance (Clint ). The binding mode of the compounds and physicochemical properties were predicted via in silico studies.

Construction of a novel quinoxaline as a new class of Nrf2 activator.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its principal repressive regulator, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), are perilous in the regulation of inflammation, as well as maintenance of homeostasis. Thus, NRF2 activation is involved in cytoprotection against many inflammatory disorders. N'-Nicotinoylquinoxaline-2-carbohdyrazide (NQC) was structurally designed by the combination of important pharmacophoric features of bioactive compounds reported in the literature. METHODS: NQC was synthesised and characterised using spectroscopic techniques. The compound was tested for its anti-inflammatory effect using Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (LPSEc) induced inflammation in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells). The effect of NQC on inflammatory cytokines was measured using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The Nrf2 activity of the compound NQC was determined using 'Keap1:Nrf2 Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit'. To obtain the insights on NQC's activity on Nrf2, molecular docking studies were performed using Schrödinger suite. The metabolic stability of NQC was determined using mouse, rat and human microsomes. RESULTS: NQC was found to be non-toxic at the dose of 50 µM on RAW 264.7 cells. NQC showed potent anti-inflammatory effect in an in vitro model of LPSEc stimulated murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) with an IC50 value 26.13 ± 1.17 µM. NQC dose-dependently down-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1ß (13.27 ± 2.37 µM), IL-6 (10.13 ± 0.58 µM) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] (14.41 ± 1.83 µM); and inflammatory mediator, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with IC50 values, 15.23 ± 0.91 µM. Molecular docking studies confirmed the favourable binding of NQC at Kelch domain of Keap-1. It disrupts the Nrf2 interaction with kelch domain of keap 1 and its IC50 value was 4.21 ± 0.89 µM. The metabolic stability studies of NQC in human, rat and mouse liver microsomes revealed that it is quite stable with half-life values; 63.30 ± 1.73, 52.23 ± 0.81, 24.55 ± 1.13 min; microsomal intrinsic clearance values; 1.14 ± 0.31, 1.39 ± 0.87 and 2.96 ± 0.34 µL/min/g liver; respectively. It is observed that rat has comparable metabolic profile with human, thus, rat could be used as an in vivo model for prediction of pharmacokinetics and metabolism profiles of NQC in human. CONCLUSION: NQC is a new class of NRF2 activator with potent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and good metabolic stability.