Orobanone analogues from acid-promoted aromatization rearrangement of curcumol inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in cell-based reporter assays

In this paper, the mechanism of orobanone analogues formation via aromatization rearrangement of curcumol was minutely explored. Aromatization of curcumol with acetone under acidic condition was selected as the model reaction. The formation of a stable aromatic system was the driving force for this reaction. Based on the model reaction, other four new orobanone analogues were prepared through curcumol reacting with different carbonyl compounds. The results showed that the stability of carbocation, which was generated from the carbonyl compounds, and the steric hindrance were main factors affecting the aromatization. We also synthesized the analogue of aromaticane B using compound 2. In vitro anti-proliferative activity of some derivatives were tested by MTT assay. Two derivatives showed weak anti-tumor effect on two cancer cell lines (HepG2 and MCF7) under normoxia. Four orobanone analogue 2, 5, 6 and 9 significantly inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1 luciferase reporter activity in HeLa cells with the IC₅₀ values of 13.6, 6.6, 2.4 and 18.2 μM, respectively.     

Curcumol suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast formation by attenuating the JNK signaling pathway

Osteoclasts, derived from hemopoietic progenitors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, have a unique role in bone resorption, and are considered a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of such pathologic bone diseases as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontitis. In the present study, we demonstrate that curcumol, one of the major components of the essential oil of Rhizoma Curcumae, exhibits an inhibitory effect on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation with both bone marrow-derived macrophages and RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, RANKL-induced mRNA expression of osteoclast-specific genes, such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin receptor, and cathepsin K, is prominently reduced in the presence of curcumol. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of action was investigated, and curcumol inhibited osteoclastogenesis by specifically impairing RANKL-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling, which was further identified in rescue studies by means of anisomycin, a JNK signaling-specific activator. Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumol suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation through the JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway, and may be useful as a therapeutic treatment for bone resorption-associated diseases.     

Gastrodin prevents motor deficits and oxidative stress in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease: Involvement of ERK1/2–Nrf2 signaling pathway

Aims

Current no effective therapy is available to halt the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiology of PD. The present study evaluates the hypothesis that prevention of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor deficits by gastrodin might mainly result from its antioxidant property via interrupting extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway.

Main methods

Pretreatment of mouse model of PD is established by treating C57BL/6 mice with 4 doses of MPTP (30 mg/kg per day, i.p.), with gastrodin (60 mg/kg per day) administered by daily intraperitoneal injection for 2 weeks. Motor behavior of mice was monitored by open-field test and rotarod test. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of genes.

Key findings

MPTP-induced motor deficits were partially and significantly forestalled by gastrodin. Gastrodin treatment prevented MPTP-induced oxidative stress, as measured by malondialdehyde in midbrain. Interestingly, MPTP-intoxicated mice treated with gastrodin robustly increased heme oxygenase 1, superoxide dismutase, glutathione levels, and Nrf2 nuclear translocation in striatum of MPTP-intoxicated mice. Furthermore, results herein suggest that the antioxidant pathway activated by gastrodin involves ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

Significance

Gastrodin protects midbrain of MPTP-intoxicated mice against oxidative stress, in part, through interrupting ERK1/2–Nrf2 pathway mechanism, which will give us an insight into the potential of gastrodin in terms of opening up new therapeutic avenues for PD.     

血清白蛋白与抗肿瘤药物莪术醇的相互作用关系

莪术醇是近年来发现的重要的新的抗肿瘤中药单体之一。分析莪术醇与转运蛋白—血清白蛋白之间的相互作用能够帮助研究者更好的理解药物的作用机制。本文通过用多序列分析、进化关系和分子对接技术等分析莪术醇与人血清白蛋白相互作用位点及其在其他亲缘关系较近的物种中的特点。结果表明,莪术醇与人血清白蛋白相互作用的结合位点II和III处周围几乎都是疏水性的氨基酸,分子间的疏水作用起着很重要的作用,其最低结合能分别是-7.22 Kcal/mol和-8.34 Kcal/mol。莪术醇与人血清白蛋白之间的作用位点在其他亲缘关系较近的狼(Canis lupus)、绵羊(Ovine)、牦牛(Bos mutus)、家牛(Bos Taurus)物种中都较为保守,少数有变化的氨基酸基本是在极性相同的氨基酸之间发生的。与分子相互作用前的结构相比,莪术醇中的羟基的结构在活性位点处发生了最明显的变化。