Differential perturbation of erythrocyte membrane-associated transport and enzyme activities by structurally related lipophilic compounds

The alteration of two erythrocyte plasma membrane functions, acetylcholine hydrolysis and glucose exchange, by a series of structurally related small lipophilic compounds which exhibit similar antihemolytic behavior was studied. 2-Methyldimethylaminoazobenzene is a more potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase than the 3′-methyl analogue, while the unsubstituted compound fails to inhibit. Esterase inhibition by the 2-methyl compound is noncompetitive and dependent on the anion composition of the assay buffer. The temperature dependence of acetylcholinesterase activity in the presence of the 2-methyl compound suggests that interaction with inhibitor is influenced by the state of lipids tightly bound to the enzyme. Glucose exchange is inhibited to the same extent by both methyl derivatives but not by the unsubstituted dye, and the temperature dependence in the presence of inhibitor is not grossly altered. The lack of correlation between inhibition of membrane function and stabilization of erythrocytes against osmotic hemolysis is discussed.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and in silico studies of novel N-substituted phthalazine sulfonamide compounds as potent carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

The synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of a series of novel N-substituted phthalazine sulfonamide (5a-l) are disclosed. Phthalazines which are nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are biologically preferential scaffolds, endowed with versatile pharmacological activity, such as anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic vasorelaxant, anticonvulsant, antihypertensive, antibacterial, anti-cancer action. The compounds were investigated for the inhibition against the cytosolic hCA I, II and AChE. Most screened sulfonamides showed high potency in inhibiting hCA II, widely involved in glaucoma, epilepsy, edema, and other pathologies (K_is in the ranging from 6.32 ± 0.06 to 128.93 ± 23.11 nM). hCA I was inhibited with K_is in the range of 6.80 ± 0.10–85.91 ± 7.57 nM, whereas AChE in the range of 60.79 ± 3.51–249.55 ± 7.89 nM. ADME prediction study of the designed N-substituted phthalazine sulfonamides showed that they are not only with carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities but also with appropriate pharmacokinetic, physicochemical parameters and drug-likeness properties. Also, in silico docking studies were investigated the binding modes of selected compounds, to hCA I, II, and AChE.     

Arabica coffee and olive oils mitigate malathion-induced nephrotoxicity in rat: In silico,immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluation

Malathion (MAL) is an organophosphate insecticide that disrupts the body's antioxidant system; it is one of the earliest organophosphate insecticides extensively used as dust, emulsion, and vapor control a wide variety of insect pests under different conditions. This experimentation aims to evaluate the influence of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil on MAL-induced nephrotoxicity in male rat. 6 sets bearing the same number of animals were applied to this experiment. Each set comprised 10 rats. The first set of rats was used as the control group; rats in the second set were exposed to MAL measured at 100 mg/kg body weight for 7 weeks. Animals in the third and fourth set were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil, and 100 mg/kg body weight of MAL. The fifth, together with the sixth set, were fed with a similar proportion of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil as administered to the third set of rats. After the experimental duration, rats of group 2 showed severe biochemical alterations, including significant increases of creatinine, uric acids, and urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in marked decreases in serum albumin values and total protein (TP). Severe histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations of kidney tissues were observed in exposed MAL-intoxicated rats. Administration of these oils reduced the detected biochemical, histopathological modifications caused by MAL intoxication. Two active ingredients in Arabica coffee oil (oleic acid) and olive oil (hydroxytyrosol) showed good cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) interaction. Moreover, oleic acid from coffee oil and olive oil exhibited impressive association with xanthine oxidase (XO). The current finding showed that coffee oil and olive oil could be appraised as possible and a likely deterrence component against nephrotoxicity brought about by MAL.     

Flavonol triglycosides of leaves from Maytenus robusta with acetylcholinesterase inhibition

Although Maytenus robusta aqueous infusions of leaves are used in Brazilian traditional medicine for stomach disease treatment, only a few chemical studies of this species are found in literature. The phytochemical investigation of methanol extract from M. robusta leaves yielded the known compound kaempferol (3) and two new flavonol glycosides: kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (2). The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by 1D/2D NMR, ESI–MS and ESI–MS² spectral data. It is the first time flavonoids have been reported from M. robusta. Flavonols 1 and 2 showed 66% and 80% acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, compared to 93% of the standard eserine, by the Ellman’s method. These substances are one of the few active flavonols linked to a trisaccharide chain in the literature presenting this activity, and contribute to the screening for new types of natural AChE inhibitors.     

Different Glycosylation in Acetylcholinesterases from Mammalian Brain and Erythrocytes

Acetylcholinesterases (EC 3.1.1.7, AChE) have varying amounts of carbohydrates attached to the core protein. Sequence analysis of the known primary structures gives evidence for several asparagine-linked carbohydrates. From the differences in molecular mass determined on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel before and after deglycosylation with N-glycosidase F (EC 3.2.2.18), it is seen that dimeric AChE from red cell membranes is more heavily glycosylated than the tetrameric brain enzyme. Furthermore, dimeric and tetrameric forms of bovine AChE are more heavily glycosylated than the corresponding human enzymes. Monoclonal antibodies 2E6, 1H11, and 2G8 raised against detergent-soluble AChE from electric organs of Torpedo nacline timilei as well as Elec-39 raised against AChE from Electrophorus electricus cross-reacted with AChE from bovine and human brain but not with AChE from erythrocytes. Treatment of the enzyme with N-glycosidase F abolished binding of monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that the epitope, or part of it, consists of N-linked carbohydrates. Analysis of N-acetylglucosamine sugars revealed the presence of N-acetylglucosamine in all forms of cholinesterases investigated, giving evidence for N-linked glycosylation. On the other hand, N-acetylgalactosamine was not found in AChE from human and bovine brain or in butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) from human serum, indicating that these forms of cholinesterase did not contain O-linked carbohydrates. Despite the notion that within one species, the different forms of AChE arise from one gene by different splicing, our present results show that dimeric erythrocyte and tetrameric brain AChE must undergo different postsynthetic modifications leading to differences in their glycosylation patterns.     

无脊椎动物乙酰胆碱酯酶研究进展

乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)是生物体中一种十分重要的神经递质水解酶,也是有机磷和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂的作用靶标。AChE在不同生物中的性质显著不同,如编码基因个数、序列保守性、表达分布及生理功能等。作为杀虫剂的主要作用靶标之一,AChE不但可以通过单个点突变引起昆虫抗药性,还能够通过多个点突变联合作用、靶标表达量变化及基因复制等方式引起抗药性并且改变昆虫的适合度代价。本文主要从AChE的基因类型、分子进化、蛋白结构、生理功能、与昆虫的抗药性关系、同一物种中不同AChE的性质等6个方面对昆虫纲、蛛形纲和线虫等无脊椎动物AChE的研究进展作一综述。     

Anti-cholinesterase hybrids as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer’s disease (1998–2018)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a genetically complex, progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder of the brain which involves multiple associated etiological targets. The complex pathogenesis of AD gave rise to multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) principle to combat this dreaded disease. Within this approach, the design and synthesis of hybrids prevailed greatly because of their capability to simultaneously target the intertwined pathogenesis components of the disease. The hybrids include pharmacophoric hybridization of two or more established chemical scaffolds endowed with the desired pharmacological properties into a single moiety. In AD, the primary foundation of medication therapy and drug design strategies includes the inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes. Hence the development of ChE inhibition based hybrids is the central choice of AD medicinal chemistry research. To illustrate the progress of ChE inhibition based hybrids and novel targets, we reviewed the medicinal chemistry and pharmacological properties of the multi-target molecules published since 1998-December 2018. We hope that this article will allow the readers to easily follow the evolution of this prominent medicinal chemistry approach to develop a more efficient inhibitor.     

Antioxidant and anticholinesterase investigations of Rumex hastatus D. Don: potential effectiveness in oxidative stress and neurological disorders

Background

Rumex species are traditionally used for the treatment of neurological disorders including headache, migraine, depression, paralysis etc. Several species have been scientifically validated for antioxidant and anticholinestrase potentials. This study aims to investigate Rumex hastatus D. Don crude methanolic extract, subsequent fractions, saponins and flavonoids for acetylcholinestrase, butyrylcholinestrase inhibition and diverse antioxidant activities to validate its folkloric uses in neurological disorders. Rumex hastatus crude methanolic extract (Rh. Cr), subsequent fractions; n-hexane (Rh. Hex), chloroform (Rh. Chf), ethyl acetate (Rh. EtAc), aqueous fraction (Rh. Aq), crude saponins (Rh. Sp) and flavonoids (Rh. Fl) were investigated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) at various concentrations (125, 250, 500, 1000 μg/mL) using Ellman’s spectrophotometric analysis. Antioxidant potentials of Rh. Sp and Rh. Fl were evaluated using DPPH, H₂O₂ and ABTS free radical scavenging assays at 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000 μg/mL.

Results

All the test samples showed concentration dependent cholinesterase inhibition and radicals scavenging activity. The AChE inhibition potential of Rh. Sp and Rh. Fl were most prominent i.e., 81.67 ± 0.88 and 91.62 ± 1.67 at highest concentration with IC₅₀ 135 and 20 μg/mL respectively. All the subsequent fractions exhibited moderate to high AChE inhibition i.e., Rh. Cr, Rh. Hex, Rh. Chf, Rh. EtAc and Rh. Aq showed IC₅₀ 218, 1420, 75, 115 and 1210 μg/mL respectively. Similarly, against BChE various plant extracts i.e., Rh. Sp, Rh. Fl, Rh. Cr, Rh. Hex, Rh. Chf, Rh. EtAc and Rh. Aq resulted IC₅₀ 165, 175, 265, 890, 92, 115 and 220 μg/mL respectively. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, Rh. Sp and Rh. Fl showed comparable results with the positive control i.e., 63.34 ± 0.98 and 76.93 ± 1.13% scavenging at 1 mg/mL concentration (IC₅₀ 312 and 104 μg/mL) respectively. The percent ABTS radical scavenging potential exhibited by Rh. Sp and Rh. Fl (1000 μg/mL) were 82.58 ± 0.52 and 88.25 ± 0.67 with IC₅₀ 18 and 9 μg/mL respectively. Similarly in H₂O₂ scavenging assay, the Rh. Sp and Rh. Fl exhibited IC₅₀ 175 and 275 μg/mL respectively.

Conclusion

The strong anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities of Rh. Sp, Rh. Fl and various fractions of R. hastatus support the purported ethnomedicinal uses and recommend R. hastatus as a possible remedy for the treatment of AD and neurodegenerative disorders.     

Inhibitions of monoamine oxidases and acetylcholinesterase by 1-methyl, 5-phenyl substituted thiosemicarbazones: Synthesis,biochemical, and computational investigations

A series of eleven 1-methyl, 5-phenyl substituted thiosemicarbazones (MT1–MT11) with the phenyl ring substitutions were prepared and investigated for their inhibitory activities against monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). [4-(dimethylamino) phenyl]methylidene}-N-methylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide (MT5) inhibited MAO-B potently with an IC₅₀ of 8.77 μM. Potencies for MAO-B increased in the order N(CH₃)₂ in MT5 > OCH₃ in MT3 > Br in MT9. Most of the 11 compounds weakly inhibited AChE by <30% at 10 μM. MT5 competitively inhibited MAO-B and K_i value was 6.58 ± 0.064 μM. Reversibility experiments showed MT5 also reversibly inhibited MAO-B. MTT assays revealed that MT5 and MT3 were non-toxic to normal VERO cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 191.96 and 187.04 μg/mL, respectively. From the molecular docking, MT5 binding was found to be stabilized by hydrogen bonding to the non-bonding electron of the terminal N-methyl group with Cys172 (binding energy = −7.01 kcal/mol) of MAO-B. The molecular dynamics further predicted that MT5 had a major π–π hydrophobic interaction with Tyr326 of MAO-B, suggesting that it plays an important role in the stabilization of protein-ligand interaction.These results documents that MT5 is a moderately selective, reversible, and competitive inhibitor of MAO-B with low cytotoxic profile.