Phenolic glyscosides, a new class of human recombinant nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitors

Cytotoxicity and kinetic studies of phenolic glycosides, benzoyl salireposide (1) and salireposide (2), isolated from Symplocos racemosa, were performed against phosphodiesterase I enzyme from snake venom and human nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase-1. Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots and their secondary replots showed that these compounds are pure non-competitive inhibitors of both enzymes. K(i) Values of compounds 1 and 2 were found to be 360 and 1000 microM, respectively, against human nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase, and 525 and 1100 microM, respectively, against snake venom phosphodiesterase. IC(50) values of compounds 1 and 2 are 90 microM +/- 0.04 and 383 microM +/- 0.03, respectively, against human nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase and 171 microM +/- 0.02 and 544 microM +/- 0.021, respectively, against snake venom phosphodiesterase. Both compounds were found to be nontoxic up to concentration of 500 microM/mL as >90% cells were viable after 3 h of incubation. These compounds are potential candidates for the therapy of arthritis.     

In-vitro antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of cobalt (ii), copper (ii), nickel (ii) and zinc (ii) complexes of the antibiotic drug cephalothin (Keflin)

Keflin (kefl) interacts with Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions leading to complexes of the type M(kefl)2Cl2 and M(kefl)Cl2, which have been characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Magnetic moment, IR, electronic spectral and elemental analyses data suggest that keflin behaves tridentately forming octahedral or trigonal bipyramidal complexes with the metal ions mentioned above. The new compounds have been screened in-vitro for antibacterial and cytotoxic activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysentriae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial strains. Compounds, 4 and 8 showed promising activity (90%) against seven, compound 6 showed significant activity (52%) against four and, compounds 1 and 5 showed activity (40%) against three test bacterial strains at concentration of 10 microM.     

Scavenging of reactive oxygen species by the plant phenols genistein and oleuropein.

The plant-derived phenolic compounds genistein and oleuropein are known to exhibit several biological properties, many of which may result from their antioxidant and free radical scavenger activity. In this paper we report the results of a complex study of antioxidant activity of genistein and oleuropein, using electron spin resonance (ESR), chemiluminescence, fluorescence and spectrophotometric techniques. Different reaction systems were applied to study the inhibitory effect of the phenolic compounds studied: (a) the potassium superoxide/18-crown-6 dissolved in DMSO system, which generates superoxide radical (O(2).(-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)); (b) the Co(II)-EDTA-H(2)O(2) system (the Fenton-like reaction), which generates hydroxyl radical (HO.); (c) 2,2'-azobis(2-amidino-propane)dichloride (AAPH) as the peroxyl radical (ROO.) generator, and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical test. Results showed that genistein and oleuropein decreased the chemiluminescence sum from the O(2).(-) generating system, an inhibitory effect that was dependent on their concentration. These compounds also reacted with ROO radicals and they showed activity about two-fold greater than the standard Trolox. The antioxidant effects were studied at different concentrations and reflected in protection against the fluorescence decay of beta-phycoerythrin (beta-PE), due to ROO. attack on this protein. Using the Fenton-like reaction and the spin trap agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), the phenolic compounds examined were found to inhibit DMPO-.OH radical formation in the range 10-90% at concentrations of 0.1 mmol/L to 2 mmol/L. Furthermore, these compounds also inhibited HO.-dependent deoxyribose degradation; about 20% and 60% inhibitions were observed in the presence of 0.5 mmol/L genistein and oleuropein, respectively. It was also demonstrated that genistein had a weaker DPPH radical scavenging activity than oleuropein. Our results confirm good scavenging activity towards O(2).(-), HO. and ROO. and the antioxidant effect of genistein and oleuropein.     

Synthesis and anti-TMV activity of novel β-amino acid ester derivatives containing quinazoline and benzothiazole moieties

Here, a series of β-amino acid ester derivatives containing quinazoline and benzothiazoles was synthesized and evaluated for anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activity. The compounds 3n, 3o, 3p and 3q showed good antiviral activity against TMV at a concentration of 500 μg/mL, with curative rates of 55.55%, 52.32%, 52.77% and 50.91%, respectively, and protection rates of 52.33%, 55.96%, 54.21% and 50.98%, respectively. These values were close to those of the commercially available antiviral agent ningnanmycin (which has curative and protection rates of 55.27% and 52.16%, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-TMV activity of β-amino acid ester derivatives containing quinazoline and benzothiazoles moieties; the results indicate that these novel compounds can potentially be used as protective agents against TMV diseases.     

Systemic efficacy of nodulisporamides against fleas on dogs.

Nodulisporic acid A (NSA) has been shown previously to be safe in dogs and to deliver >90% flea control for 4 days following a single oral administration. Three newly prepared nodulisporamide derivatives were subsequently identified from an artificial membrane flea feeding system as exhibiting potency substantially greater than NSA. To determine if they have superior in vivo activity, these 3 nodulisporamides, as well as NSA, were evaluated in dogs at 15 mg/kg/os. Parasite challenges were made by placing 100 live Ctenocephalides felis fleas onto the dorsum of dogs every 48 hr and examining efficacy at each of those intervals over a 22-day period. Results showed that NSA produced >90% efficacy at day 2 and 81% efficacy at day 4, and its residual flea killing fell to approximately 50% by day 6 posttreatment. All dogs treated with the 3 new experimental nodulisporamides were 100% protected from flea challenges to day 8 posttreatment, and 2 of the compounds continued to produce >90% residual activity to 2 wk posttreatment. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that plasma profiles and half-lives of NSA and these 3 new compounds correlated closely with flea efficacy. These results demonstrate that specific substitutions to the pharmacophore of NSA can substantially increase the duration of activity against fleas.     

Selection of antagonists of postharvest apple parasites: Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea

The objectives of this study were to constitute a collection of pathogenic agents of economic importance which cause losses of apple fruits after harvest namely Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum and to select in vivo efficient antagonistic strains able to protect fruits against both pathogens at 5 degrees C (P. expansum) and 25 degrees C (P. expansum & B. cinerea). Twenty strains of P. expansum and ten strains of B. cinerea have been isolated from infected apple fruits. Potential antagonistic micro-organisms (thirty three isolates) belonging to yeast, bacteria and fungi have been isolated from apple surface. Six of them (strains Ach1-1, Ach2-1, Ach2-2 belonging to Aureobasidium pullulans (De Bary) Arnaud, and strains 1112-3, 1113-10 and 1113-5 belonging to Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Am. v. pullulans) showed a high level of protection (more than 80%) at 25 degrees C. once inoculated with P. expansum or B. cinerea for 5 days. The highest level of protection against P. expansum (96%) was observed with the application of Ach 2-1. Six days after inoculation of B. cinerea, strains Ach 2-2 and Ach 2-1 insured 100% and 96% of protection, respectively. At lower temperature (5 degrees C), first symptoms of P. expansum appeared 13 days after its inoculation. Percentages of protection observed after apple treatment with one of the six antagonistic strains were ranged from 78% to 94% 20 days after P. expansum inoculation. Strains labelled Ach showed a protective level higher than 90% against this pathogen, followed by strain 1113-10 (90%), strain 1113-5 (89%) and strain 1112-3 (82%). At 26 days post-inoculation, levels of protection decreased but remained higher than 60% (more than 80% with strain Ach2-2 and strain 1113-5, 75% with strain Ach2-1 and 1113-10, 72% with ach1-1, 61% for the other strains). Strain Ach2-2 and 1113-10 were retained as the best antagonists for the subsequent studies.     

Antiviral Activity in Tissue Culture Systems of bis-Benzimidazoles, Potent Inhibitors of Rhinoviruses

(S,S)-1,2-bis(5-methoxy-2-benzimidazolyl)-1,2-ethanediol showed antiviral activity in monolayer tissue culture systems against 55 strains of rhinovirus, three types of poliovirus, and strains of type A and B coxsackieviruses. Neither the compound nor any of the analogues tested showed virucidal activity. Its antiviral activity was not associated with interference with viral attachment to or penetration into the cell. At a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, this group of compounds was generally nontoxic to WI-38, primary bovine kidney, and African green monkey kidney cells and had antiviral activity with 100% inhibition of virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE). At antiviral levels, these compounds prevented CPE of up to 10(6) median tissue culture infective dose units of virus and completely inhibited formation of new infective virions. The compounds showed antiviral activity both prophylactically and therapeutically against rhinoviruses. Infected cultures could be cleared of CPE up to 90 hr after infection.     

Effectiveness of bivalent vaccines against Aeromonas hydrophila and Lactococcus garvieae infections in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Lactococcus garvieae and Aeromonas hydrophila are bacterial pathogens affecting salmonids and other fish species and cause of heavy losses in aquaculture. Diseases caused by these bacteria can be controlled satisfactory by immunization using monovalent vaccines. In this study, the protective efficacy of two bivalent vaccines against L. garvieae and A. hydrophila was evaluated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Bivalent formulations, containing formalin-inactivated bacteria, were prepared as an aqueous bacterin and as an adjuvanted vaccine using montanide ISA-763. Protection against L. garvieae and A. hydrophila was tested at day 30 and 90 post-vaccination. High levels of protection were achieved for the aqueous and adjuvanted bivalent vaccines against L. garvieae (RPS of 100% and 95.3%) and A. hydrophila (RPS of 100% and 95.3%) at day 30 post-vaccination. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the RPS at days 30 and 90 post-immunization with a decrease in the protection levels for the aqueous bivalent vaccine against L. garvieae (RPS 76.2%) and A. hydrophila (RPS 85%), but not for the adjuvanted vaccine (RPS of 90% against L. garvieae and 95% against A. hydrophila). In addition, high antibody levels were observed in the vaccinated fish at day 15 post-immunization using both vaccines. Our results demonstrate that these bivalent vaccines can effectively protect rainbow trout against L. garvieae and A. hydrophila and could offer an appropriate strategy to prevent these infections in rainbow trout farms.     

Combined treatment of heterocyclic analogues and benznidazole upon Trypanosoma cruzi in vivo

Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Latin America but no vaccines or safe chemotherapeutic agents are available. Combined therapy is envisioned as an ideal approach since it may enhance efficacy by acting upon different cellular targets, may reduce toxicity and minimize the risk of drug resistance. Therefore, we investigated the activity of benznidazole (Bz) in combination with the diamidine prodrug DB289 and in combination with the arylimidamide DB766 upon T. cruzi infection in vivo. The oral treatment of T.cruzi-infected mice with DB289 and Benznidazole (Bz) alone reduced the number of circulating parasites compared with untreated mice by about 70% and 90%, respectively. However, the combination of these two compounds decreased the parasitemia by 99% and protected against animal mortality by 100%, but without providing a parasitological cure. When Bz (p.o) was combined with DB766 (via i.p. route), at least a 99.5% decrease in parasitemia levels was observed. DB766+Bz also provided 100% protection against mice mortality while Bz alone provided about 87% protection. This combined therapy also reduced the tissular lesions induced by T. cruzi infection: Bz alone reduced GPT and CK plasma levels by about 12% and 78% compared to untreated mice group, the combination of Bz with DB766 resulted in a reduction of GPT and CK plasma levels of 56% and 91%. Cure assessment through hemocultive and PCR approaches showed that Bz did not provide a parasitological cure, however, DB766 alone or associated with Bz cured ≥13% of surviving animals.     

In-vitro antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of cobalt (ii), copper (ii), nickel (ii) and zinc (ii) complexes of the antibiotic drug cephalothin (Keflin)

Keflin (kefl) interacts with Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions leading to complexes of the type M(kefl)₂Cl₂ and M(kefl)Cl₂, which have been characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Magnetic moment, IR, electronic spectral and elemental analyses data suggest that keflin behaves tridentately forming octahedral or trigonal bipyramidal complexes with the metal ions mentioned above. The new compounds have been screened in-vitro for antibacterial and cytotoxic activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysentriae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial strains. Compounds, 4 and 8 showed promising activity (90%) against seven, compound 6 showed significant activity (52%) against four and, compounds 1 and 5 showed activity (40%) against three test bacterial strains at concentration of 10 μM.     

Molluscicidal effect of nicotinanilide and its intermediate compounds against a freshwater snail Lymnaea luteola, the vector of animal schistosomiasis

The molluscicidal effect of nicotinanilide was evaluated and compared with niclosamide (2',5-dichloro-4'-nitrosalicylanilide, ethanolamide salt) against different stages of the freshwater snail Lymnaea luteola i.e., eggs, immature, young mature, and adults. Calculated values of lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) showed that both nicotinanilide and niclosamide as toxic against eggs, immature, and adults. The young mature stage of the snails was comparatively more tolerant to both molluscicides than the other stages. The toxicity of the intermediate compounds of nicotinanilide against the young mature stage of the snails showed them as ineffective. The mortality pattern of the snails exposed to LC90 concentration of these molluscicides showed niclosamide to kill faster (within 8 to 9 h) than nicotinanilide (26 to 28 h). In view of the above studies it may be concluded that both molluscicides are toxic against all the stages of the L. luteola snails.     

Evaluation of some adamantane-based synthetic trioxanes against Plasmodium knowlesi in rhesus monkeys

In our search for synthetic substitutes for artemisinin and its derivatives we had earlier prepared a series of adamantane-based 1, 2, 4-trioxanes 5a-c which had shown promising activity against P. berghei in Swiss mice. We have further evaluated these and two new compounds (5d-e) against Plasmodium knowlesi W1, a virulent malaria parasite in rhesus monkeys, in the dose range of 40-80 mg/kg x 5 days by intramuscular route. Trioxanes 5b and 5c showed 100% protection and cure at 80 mg/kg x 5 days, while trioxane 5a showed 71% cure at this dose. Detailed studies again showed 50% curative effect of 5a at 40 mg/kg x 5 days treatment.     

Synthesis and evaluation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, ulcerogenic and lipid peroxidation properties of new 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid derivatives

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of various 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid derivatives containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole and thiadiazolo[3,2-a][1,3,5]triazine-5-thione nucleus is reported here. The structures of new compounds are supported by IR, (1)H & (13)C NMR data. These compounds were tested in vivo for their anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds which showed activity comparable to the standard drug ibuprofen were screened for their analgesic, ulcerogenic and lipid peroxidation activities. The compounds, which showed less ulcerogenic action, also showed reduced malondialdehyde production (MDA). Compound 4i and 5f showed 89.50 and 88.88% of inhibition in paw edema, 69.80 and 66.25% protection against acetic acid-induced writhings and 0.7 and 0.65 of severity index, respectively, compared to 90.12, 72.50 and 1.95 values of ibuprofen.     

Radiation protection by the ocimum flavonoids orientin and vicenin: mechanisms of action

In previous studies, flavonoids, orientin and vicenin, that were isolated from the leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum, were found to protect mice against radiation injury. Several flavonoids are known to be good antioxidants. Therefore, the effect of orientin and vicenin on radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in vivo and their antioxidant activity in vitro were studied. Adult mice were injected intraperitoneally with 50 microgram/kg of orientin or vicenin and exposed whole-body to 3 Gy of gamma radiation. Lipid peroxidation was measured in the liver 15 min to 8 h postirradiation. The antioxidant activity of orientin/vicenin (10-500 microM) was studied by measuring inhibition of hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction (Fe(3+)-EDTA-ascorbic acid-H(2)O(2)) in vitro. The compounds were also tested for possible pro-oxidant and iron chelation activities at the above concentrations in the in vitro system. Orientin and vicenin provided almost equal protection against radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in mouse liver. Both compounds showed a significantly greater free radical-inhibiting activity in vitro than DMSO. Neither orientin nor vicenin showed any pro-oxidant activity at the concentrations tested. Both compounds inhibited free radical formation in the absence of EDTA. Free radical scavenging appears to be a likely mechanism of radiation protection by these flavonoids.     

DNA-bound proteins contribute much more than soluble intracellular compounds to the intrinsic protection against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in human cells

To assess the role of soluble intracellular compounds and DNA-bound proteins in the intrinsic protection against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks, the alkaline unwinding technique was applied to cellular, nuclear, and nucleoid monolayers. It was found that, when the soluble intracellular compounds were removed from human fibroblasts by permeabilization (nuclear monolayers) and irradiated in a phosphate buffer containing 150 mM monovalent cations (Na+ and K+) and 0.8 mM MgCl2, the frequency of radiation-induced DNA strand breaks increased twofold. Removal of both soluble intracellular compounds and DNA-bound proteins from the cells by a pretreatment with 2 M NaCl (nucleoid monolayers) resulted in a 100-fold increase in the frequency of strand-break induction by gamma radiation. Expressed as percentage of total intrinsic protection against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks, DNA-bound protein contributed 99% compared to 1% by soluble intracellular compounds. Using a different experimental approach it was found that the radioprotective capacity of soluble intracellular compounds was equivalent to about 5 mM dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and DNA-bound proteins to about 70 mM DMSO. It is concluded that DNA-bound proteins play a much greater role than soluble intracellular compounds in the intrinsic protection against radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in cultured human cells.     

Design and synthesis of novel macrocyclic 2-amino-6-arylpyrimidine Hsp90 inhibitors

Macrocyclic compounds bearing a 2-amino-6-arylpyrimidine moiety were identified as potent heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors by modification of 2-amino-6-aryltriazine derivative (CH5015765). We employed a macrocyclic structure as a skeleton of new inhibitors to mimic the geldanamycin-Hsp90 interactions. Among the identified inhibitors, CH5164840 showed high binding affinity for N-terminal Hsp90α (K(d)=0.52nM) and strong anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines (HCT116 IC(50)=0.15μM, NCI-N87 IC(50)=0.066μM). CH5164840 displayed high oral bioavailability in mice (F=70.8%) and potent antitumor efficacy in a HCT116 human colorectal cancer xenograft model (tumor growth inhibition=83%).     

小花假泽兰精油化学成分及其抑菌活性初步研究

利用GC-MS技术分析了小花假泽兰全株精油的化学成分及其含量,并初步测定了精油的抑菌效果.从小花假泽兰全株精油中共鉴定出49种成分,占色谱峰总面积的57.28%,主要成分为22,23-二羟基豆甾烷醇(7.34%)、氧化丁子香烯(3.34%)、罗汉柏烯(2.92%)、cubenol(2.81%)等.生长速率法测定表明,小花假泽兰精油对番茄灰霉病菌、小麦纹枯病菌和小麦赤霉病菌菌丝生长抑制作用较强,在1 000 mg/L剂量下抑制率均在90%以上;果实针刺法测试表明,该精油对番茄灰霉病菌具明显保护作用和治疗作用,但治疗效果低于保护效果,在2 000mg/L剂量下,后者达70.79%,前者仅51.79%.     

ABC transporters of the wheat pathogen<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Mycosphaerella graminicola</Emphasis> function as protectants against biotic and xenobiotic toxic compounds

We have studied the role of five ABC transporter genes (MgAtr to MgAtr5) from the wheat pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola in multidrug resistance (MDR). Complementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with the ABC transporter genes from M. graminicola showed that all the genes tested encode proteins that provide protection against chemically unrelated compounds, indicating that their products function as multidrug transporters with distinct but overlapping substrate specificities. Their substrate range in yeast includes fungicides, plant metabolites, antibiotics, and a mycotoxin derived from Fusarium graminearum (diacetoxyscirpenol). Transformants of M. graminicola in which individual ABC transporter genes were deleted or disrupted did not exhibit clear-cut phenotypes, probably due to the functional redundancy of transporters with overlapping substrate specificity. Independently generated MgAtr5 deletion mutants of M. graminicola showed an increase in sensitivity to the putative wheat defence compound resorcinol and to the grape phytoalexin resveratrol, suggesting a role for this transporter in protecting the fungus against plant defence compounds. Bioassays with antagonistic bacteria indicated that MgAtr2 provides protection against metabolites produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens and Burkholderia cepacia. In summary, our results show that ABC transporters from M. graminicola play a role in protection against toxic compounds of natural and artificial origin.