Phloroglucinol derivatives and other constituents from South African Helichrysum species

The investigation of 11 South African Helichrysum species afforded in addition to known compounds 26 further phloroglucinol derivatives, nine diterpenes, a derivative of isocomene and an α-pyrone derivative. The structures were elucidated by highfield NMR spectroscopy and a few chemical transformations. Furthermore the structures of several phloroglucinol derivatives were established by synthesis. The chemotaxonomy is discussed.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new quinoline derivatives as antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal agents

As a part of our project aimed at developing new safe chemotherapeutic agents against tropical diseases, a series of aryl derivatives of 2- and 3-aminoquinoline, some of them new compounds, was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as antiproliferative agents against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for American trypanosomiasis (Chagas’ disease), and Leishmania mexicana, the etiological agent of Leishmaniasis. Some of them showed a remarkable activity as parasite growth inhibitors. Fluorine-containing derivatives 11b and 11c were more than twice more potent than geneticin against intracellular promastigote form of Leishmania mexicana exhibiting both IC₅₀ values of 41.9 μM. The IC₅₀ values corresponding to fluorine and chlorine derivatives 11b–d were in the same order than benznidazole against epimastigote form. These drugs are interesting examples of effective antiparasitic agents with outstanding potential not only as lead drugs but also to be used for further in vivo studies. In addition, the obtained compounds showed no toxicity in Vero cells, which makes them good candidates to control tropical diseases. Regarding the probable mode of action, assayed quinoline derivatives interacted with hemin, inhibiting its degradation and generating oxidative stress that is not counteracted by the antioxidant defense system of the parasite.     

Synthesis,anti-diabetic evaluation and molecular docking studies of 4-(1-aryl-1H-1, 2, 3-triazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives as novel 11-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitors

11-Beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1(11β-HSD1) inhibitors are one of the emerging classes of molecules to fight against diabetic complications. A novel series of 4-(1-substituted-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-diabetic activity. Two compounds showed anti-diabetic activity very effectively. To clarify the mechanism of action of these compounds, the most potent compounds (5g and 5h) of the synthesized analogs were further studied by testing its 11-Beta Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 inhibitory activity through in vitro enzymatic experiments. The results showed that the 11β-HSD1 inhibitory activity of compounds 5g and 5h was stable and efficient. Molecular docking studies revealed compounds 5g (−9.758) and 5h (−8.495) to have a stable binding patterns to the human 11-Beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1.     

Neue sesquiterpene und acetylenverbindungen aus Cineraria-arten

The investigation of several members of the South African genus Cineraria affords, in addition to known compounds, several new eremophilene derivatives together with modified types all derived from a carbon skeleton where the 5-methyl has migrated to C-6. Some of these compounds are transformed to unusual enol lactones. Furthermore some derivatives of himachalene are present. All species also contain C₁₁-acetylenes, most of which are new. Senecio deltoideus also contains some of these compounds. The chemotaxonomic situation is discussed.     

Chemical constituents from the seeds of Raphanus sativus L. and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical investigations on the seeds of Raphanus sativus L. led to the isolation and identification of 15 compounds, including eleven sinapoyl derivatives (1–11), two terpenes (12–13), and two phenolic acids (14–15). All chemical structures were elucidated via ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods, and further supported by comparison with literature data. Compound 11 was isolated from the genus Raphanus for the first time. Notably, Compounds 7, 9, and 12–14 were reported in the Brassicaceae family for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds is discussed.     

Neue phloroglucin-derivate aus Helichrysum natalitium und Helichrysum bellum

Helichrysum natalitium afforded four new phloroglucinol derivatives, while from H. bellum two further compounds of this type have been isolated; H. platypterum yielded two known derivatives. The new structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and some chemical transformations. The chemotaxonomical situation is briefly discussed.     

Two new quinic acid derivatives from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa

Two new quinic acid derivatives (1, 2), together containing eighteen (3–20) known compounds, were isolated from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa. Spectroscopic methods and previous data retrieved from the literature were used to determine the chemical structures of the compounds. Among the compounds, quinic acid derivatives (3, 4, 6, 7), phenolic acid compounds (8, 10, 11) and catechin derivatives (18, 19, 20) were isolated for the first time from the family Chaenomeles. The chemotaxonomic significance of the compounds was also discussed.     

Neue labdan-derivate aus Aristeguietia buddleaefolia

The aerial parts of Aristeguietia buddleaefolia afforded, in addition to known compounds, three new diterpenes, all being 12, 13-E-abienol derivatives. A further diterpene turned out to be jhanidiol-18-O-acetate, isolated earlier from an Ageratina species. Furthermore two derivatives of hydroxy dihydroconiferyl alcohol are present. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical transformations.     

Discovery of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid conjugated aminobenzothiazole derivatives as Hsp90-Cdc37 interaction disruptors that inhibit cell migration and reverse drug resistance

A series of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) conjugated aminobenzothiazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for disruption activity of Hsp90-Cdc37 as well as the effects of in vitro cell migration. These compounds exhibited relatively good disruption activity against Hsp90-Cdc37 with IC₅₀ values in low micromolar range. A docking study of the most active compound 11g revealed key interactions between 11g and Hsp90-Cdc37 complex in which the benzothiazole moiety and the amine chain group were important for improving activity. It is noteworthy that further antitumor activity screening revealed that some compounds exhibited better inhibitory activity than the commercial anticancer drug 5-FU and showed potent suppression activity against drug-resistant cancer cells. In particular, compound 11?g appeared to be the most potent compound against the A549 cell line, at least partly, by inhibition of the activity of Hsp90 and apoptosis induction. The treatment of A549 cells with compound 11g resulted in inhibition of in vitro cell migration through wound healing assay and S phase of cell cycle arrested. In addition, 11g-induced apoptosis was significantly facilitated in A549 cells. Thus, we conclude that GA aminobenzothiazole derivatives may be the potential Hsp90-Cdc37 disruptors with the ability to suppress cells migration and reversed drug-resistant.     

Artemisinin-indole and artemisinin-imidazole hybrids: Synthesis,cytotoxic evaluation and reversal effects on multidrug resistance in MCF-7/ADR cells

A series of artemisinin derivatives with MDR reversal activity were designed and synthesized. All hybrids were screened to anticancer activities against four human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, HepG-2, MDA-MB-231) and normal human hepatic cell (L02) in vitro. Most of the new compounds showed higher anticancer activities than artemisinin, among which compounds 11a and 11c displayed superior potency with IC₅₀ 6.78?μM and 5.25?μM against MCF-7, respectively. The further research indicated that the most potent 11c induced cell cycle arrest at G2 phase in MCF-7. Additionally, compound 11c showed remarkable MDR reversal activity which reversed adriamycin against MCF-7/ADR cells with IC₅₀ 0.76?μM.     

Further sesquiterpene lactones from the genus Dittrichia

The aerial parts of Dittrichia graveolens afforded in addition to compounds isolated previously five new sesquiterpene lactones, two benzoic acid derivatives while D. viscosa gave two further derivatives of costic acid. The structures were elucidated by high field NMR spectroscopy.     

Sesquiterpenes and a dimeric spiroketone from Cineraria fruticulorum

The aerial parts of Cineraria fruticulorum afforded in addition to known compounds three spathulenol derivatives, a hydroxymyrtenol and an oxo-humulene, while the roots gave in addition to known compounds a further humulene derivative, three cinalbicol derivatives, a sesquiterpene with a spirodienone moiety and its dimer. From C. parvifolia only known compounds were isolated which, however, confirmed previous results on this genus. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformations.     

Correlating the Metabolic Stability of Psychedelic 5-HT2A Agonists with Anecdotal Reports of Human Oral Bioavailability

2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamines and their N-benzylated derivatives are potent 5-HT_2A agonists with psychedelic effects in humans. The N-benzylated derivatives are among the most selective 5-HT_2A agonists currently available and their usage as biochemical and brain imaging tools is increasing, yet very little is known about the relationships between the structure of the ligands and their pharmacokinetic profile. In order to evaluate the potential of these compounds for in vivo applications we have determined the microsomal stability of 11 phenethylamines and 27 N-benzylated derivatives thereof using human liver microsomes. We found that the N-benzylated phenethylamines have much higher intrinsic clearance than the parent phenethylamines. We hypothesize that their low hepatic stability renders them orally inactive due to first pass metabolism, which is supported by anecdotal data from recreational use of these compounds.     

The synthesis of 11-[(2-pyridyl)amino]- and 11-[(9-anthracenylcarbonyl)amino]undecyl phosphate and the study of their acceptor properties in the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by Salmonella galactosyl phosphotransferases

Undecyl phosphate derivatives with new fluorescent labels, 11-[(2-pyridyl)amino]undecyl phosphate and 11-[(9-anthracenylcarbonyl)amino]undecyl phosphate, were synthesized. These compounds were shown to be acceptor substrates of the galactosyl phosphate residue in the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by galactosyl phosphotransferase from Salmonella anatum or Salmonella newport membrane preparations.     

Enhancing activity of antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus: Zanthoxylum capense constituents and derivatives

Six compounds (1–6), isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of the African medicinal plant Zanthoxylum capense Thunb. (Rutaceae), and seven ester derivatives (7–13) were evaluated for their antibacterial activities and modulatory effects on the MIC of antibiotics (erythromycin, oxacillin, and tetracycline) and ethidium bromide (EtBr) against a Staphylococcus aureus reference strain (ATCC 6538). Using the same model, compounds 1–13 were also assessed for their potential as efflux pump inhibitors by a fluorometric assay that measures the accumulation of the broad range efflux pump substrate EtBr. Compounds 8 and 11 were further evaluated for their antibacterial, modulatory and EtBr accumulation effects against four additional S. aureus strains, which included two clinical methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. Compounds (1–13) have not shown antibacterial activity at the concentration ranges tested. When evaluated against S. aureus ATCC 6538, oxychelerythrine (1) a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, showed the highest modulatory activity enhancing the susceptibility of this strain to all the tested antibiotics from two to four-fold. Ailanthoidiol diacetate (8) and ailanthoidiol di-2-ethylbutanoate (11) were also good modulators when combined with EtBr, increasing the bacteria susceptibility by four and two-fold, respectively. In the EtBr accumulation assay, using ATCC 6538 strain, the phenylpropanoid (+)-ailanthoidiol (6) and most of its ester derivatives (8−11) exhibited higher activity than the positive control verapamil. The highest effects were found for compounds 8 and 11 that also increased the accumulation of EtBr, using S. aureus ATCC 25923 as model. Furthermore, both compounds (8, 11) were able to enhance the ciprofloxacin activity against the MRSA clinical strains tested, causing a reduction of the antibiotic MIC values from two to four-fold. The EtBr accumulation assay revealed that this modulation activity was not due to an inhibition of efflux pumps mechanism.These results suggested that Z. capense constituents may be valuable as leads for restoring antibiotic activity against MRSA strains.     

Efficiency of newly prepared thiazole derivatives against some cutaneous fungi

A series of fourteen novel synthesized arylazothiazole and arylhydrazothiazole derivatives were tested for their antifungal activity and structure-activity relationship. The activity of the compounds depends mainly on the side chains of the nucleus compound. The antifungal activity was more significant when both side chains are aromatic?>?one aromatic and one aliphatic and substituted aromatic with CH₃ or OCH₃?>?non-substituted?>?substituted aromatic with chloro- or nitro-groups. Thiazole derivatives 7a, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7?g, 7i, 7?m, and 11a showed the most effective as antifungal compounds and were comparable with fluconazole as antifungal reference drug when investigated against Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) reached 2?µg/mL in the case of C. albicans for compounds 7a, 7b, 7c and 11a and measured 4?µg/mL in the case of M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes for the same compounds. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) for the same compounds was 4?µg/mL for C. albicans and ranged from 8 to 32?µg/mL for the other two fungi. The results revealed that compounds 7c and 11a were the most antifungal compounds against the test fungi regarding keratinase activity and ergosterol biosynthesis. The in vivo efficacy of synthesized thiazoles 7c and 11a applied at their respective MFC was more effective in the treatment of skin infection of guinea pigs previously inoculated with the test fungi as compared with fluconazole. The Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software was used to analyze the docking poses and binding energies of compound 11a and keratinase. The computational studies supported the biological activity results.     

Diterpenes and sesquiterpenes from Osteospermum species

The investigation of several Osteospermum species afforded in addition to known compounds three diterpenes from the rare cassane type, two further sandaracopimarene derivatives, two 6-desoxyglucosides of cubebol and 13-hydroxycaryophyllene, respectively, an isomer of 7-hydroxycalamenene, two p-hydroxyacetophenone derivatives derived from toxol, a thymol derivative and the palmitates of lupeol, taraxasterol and 3β,20-dihydroxydammarene. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The chemotaxonomy of the genus is discussed briefly.     

Synthesis,in-vitro α-glucosidase inhibition,antioxidant, in-vivo antidiabetic and molecular docking studies of pyrrolidine-2,5-dione and thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives

α-Glucosidase is considered as a therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). In current study, we synthesized pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (succinimide) and thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives and evaluated for their ability to inhibit α-Glucosidase. Pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives (11a–o) showed moderate to poor α-glucosidase inhibition. Compound 11o with the IC₅₀ value of 28.3 ± 0.28 µM emerged as a good inhibitor of α-glucosidase. Thiazolidine-2,4-dione and dihydropyrimidine (TZD-DHPM) hybrids (22a–c) showed excellent inhibitory activities. The most active compound 22a displayed IC₅₀ value of 0.98 ± 0.008 µM. Other two compounds of this series also showed activity in low micromolar range. The in-vivo antidiabetic study of three compounds 11n, 11o and 22a were also determined using alloxan induced diabetes mice model. Compounds 11o and 22a showed significant hypoglycemic effect compared to the reference drug. In-vivo acute toxicity study showed the safety of these selected compounds. In-silico docking studies were carried out to rationalize the in-vitro results. The binding modes and bioassay results of TZD-DHPM hybrids showed that interactions with important residues appeared significant for high potency.     

Neue sesquiterpene,triterpene, flavanone und andere aromatische verbindungen aus Flourensia heterolepis

The investigation of a further Flourensia species afforded in addition to already known compounds 12 new sesquiterpene acids isolated as their methyl esters, a new eudesmane diol, four lupane derivatives and two flavanones, two cinnamic acid derivatives, also isolated as methyl esters and a ketone. The structures are elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical transformations. Several of the compounds isolated are more or less similar to those isolated from other Flourensia species; the considerable amounts of eudesmanes, however, are unusual. The overall picture of the genus is still relatively uniform. Close relationships to Helianthella are obvious, while to Helianthus, placed in the same subtribe, no clear relations are visible.     

Triazolopyridazine derivatives: Synthesis,cytotoxic evaluation,c-Met kinase activity and molecular docking

Novel series of some triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives were designed and synthesized. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity at 10⁻⁵ M concentration towards 60 cancer cell lines according to USA NCI protocol. Most of the synthesized compounds showed good activity against SR (leukemia) cell panel. The most active compounds, 2f and 4a were subjected for further evaluation at a five dose level screening and their efficacy for c-Met kinase inhibition was determined in vitro. Binding mode of these derivatives was explored via molecular docking.