Inhibition of carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart by alkyl phenyl ketones

The inhibitory effects of alkyl phenyl ketones on carbonyl reductase activity were examined in pig heart. In this study, carbonyl reductase activity was estimated as the ability to reduce 4-benzoylpyridine to S(-)-alpha-phenyl-4-pyridylmethanol in the cytosolic fraction from pig heart (pig heart cytosol). The order of their inhibitory potencies was hexanophenone > valerophenone > heptanophenone > butyrophenone > propiophenone. The inhibitory potencies of acetophenone and nonanophenone were much lower. A significant relationship was observed between Vmax/Km values for the reduction of alkyl phenyl ketones and their inhibitory potencies for carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart cytosol. Furthermore, hexanophenone was a competitive inhibitor for the enzyme activity. These results indicate that several alkyl phenyl ketones including hexanophenone inhibit carbonyl reductase activity in pig heart cytosol, by acting as substrate inhibitors.     

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity by antidepressants and mood stabilizers

OBJECTIVE: Monoamine oxidase (MAO), the enzyme responsible for metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters, has an important role in the brain development and function, and MAO inhibitors have a range of potential therapeutic uses. We investigated systematically in vitro effects of pharmacologically different antidepressants and mood stabilizers on MAO activity. Methods: Effects of drugs on the activity of MAO were measured in crude mitochondrial fraction isolated from cortex of pig brain, when radiolabeled serotonin (for MAO-A) or phenylethylamine (for MAO-B) was used as substrate. The several antidepressants and mood stabilizers were compared with effects of well known MAO inhibitors such as moclobemide, iproniazid, pargyline, and clorgyline. Results: In general, the effect of tested drugs was found to be inhibitory. The half maximal inhibitory concentration, parameters of enzyme kinetic, and mechanism of inhibition were determined. MAO-A was inhibited by the following drugs: pargyline > clorgyline > iproniazid > fluoxetine > desipramine > amitriptyline > imipramine > citalopram > venlafaxine > reboxetine > olanzapine > mirtazapine > tianeptine > moclobemide, cocaine > lithium, valproate. MAO-B was inhibited by the following drugs: pargyline > clorgyline > iproniazid > fluoxetine > venlafaxine > amitriptyline > olanzapine > citalopram > desipramine > reboxetine > imipramine > tianeptine > mirtazapine, cocaine > moclobemide, lithium, valproate. The mechanism of inhibition of MAOs by several antidepressants was found various. Conclusions: It was concluded that MAO activity is acutely affected by pharmacologically different antidepressants at relatively high drug concentrations; this effect is inhibitory. There are differences both in inhibitory potency and in mechanism of inhibition between both several drugs and the two MAO isoforms. While MAO inhibition is not primary biochemical effect related to their therapeutic action, it can be supposed that decrease of MAO activity may be concerned in some effects of these drugs on serotonergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission.     

Structure and activity relationship of 2-(substituted benzoyl)-hydroxyindoles as novel CaMKII inhibitors

A series of novel 2-substituted-5-hydroxyindoles were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against CaMKII. Structure and activity relationship results indicated that potent inhibitory activity could be achieved by modification at the para-position of the phenyl ring of the high throughput screening hit compound 2. Among the prepared compounds, we identified 14 as a novel CaMKII inhibitor with an activity stronger than that of KN-93, a known CaMKII inhibitor.     

Lactobacillus crispatus Dominant Vaginal Microbiome Is Associated with Inhibitory Activity of Female Genital Tract Secretions against Escherichia coli

Objective

Female genital tract secretions inhibit E. coli ex vivo and the activity may prevent colonization and provide a biomarker of a healthy microbiome. We hypothesized that high E. coli inhibitory activity would be associated with a Lactobacillus crispatus and/or jensenii dominant microbiome and differ from that of women with low inhibitory activity.

Study Design

Vaginal swab cell pellets from 20 samples previously obtained in a cross-sectional study of near-term pregnant and non-pregnant healthy women were selected based on having high (>90% inhibition) or low (<20% inhibition) anti-E. coli activity. The V6 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Filtered culture supernatants from Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners, and Gardnerella vaginalis were also assayed for E. coli inhibitory activity.

Results

Sixteen samples (10 with high and 6 with low activity) yielded evaluable microbiome data. There was no difference in the predominant microbiome species in pregnant compared to non-pregnant women (n = 8 each). However, there were significant differences between women with high compared to low E. coli inhibitory activity. High activity was associated with a predominance of L. crispatus (p<0.007) and culture supernatants from L. crispatus exhibited greater E. coli inhibitory activity compared to supernatants obtained from L. iners or G. vaginalis. Notably, the E. coli inhibitory activity varied among different strains of L. crispatus.

Conclusion

Microbiome communities with abundant L. crispatus likely contribute to the E. coli inhibitory activity of vaginal secretions and efforts to promote this environment may prevent E. coli colonization and related sequelae including preterm birth.     

A serine protease inhibitor from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musca domestica</Emphasis> larva exhibits inhibitory activity against elastase and chymotrypsin

Objective

Insect-derived serine protease inhibitors (serpins) exhibit multiple inhibitory activities, but so far, no functional roles for serpins of Musca domestica have been identified. Here, the functional features of M. domestica serine protease inhibitor (MDSPI16) were characterized.

Results

Hundred forty seven differentially expressed genes including the MDSPI16 gene were screened by constructing the subtractive cDNA library. The 1154-bp full-length MDSPI16 gene was cloned, and the recombinant MDSPI16 serpin protein was expressed as a 42.6 kDa protein in an Escherichia coli expression system. The recombinant MDSPI16 protein was purified using Ni–NTA affinity chromatography, and the inhibitory activity of MDSPI16 was assessed. MDSPI16 did not inhibit trypsin, papain, or proteinase K but strongly inhibited elastase (K_i = 2.8 nM) and chymotrypsin (K_i = 28 nM). The inhibitory activity of MDSPI16 remained stable over from 37 to 100 °C and from pH 2 to 12.

Conclusions

The MDSPI16 exhibited inhibitory activity against elastase and chymotrypsin and the inhibitory activity remained stable.

     

Biotransformation of mulberroside A from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis> results in enhancement of tyrosinase inhibition

Mulberroside A, a glycosylated stilbene, was isolated and identified from the ethanol extract of the roots of Morus alba. Oxyresveratrol, the aglycone of mulberroside A, was produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of mulberroside A using the commercial enzyme Pectinex^®. Mulberroside A and oxyresveratrol showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ of 53.6 and 0.49 μM, respectively. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of oxyresveratrol was thus approximately 110-fold higher than that of mulberroside A. Inhibition kinetics showed mulberroside A to be a competitive inhibitor of mushroom tyrosinase with l-tyrosine and l-DOPA as substrate. Oxyresveratrol showed mixed inhibition and noncompetitive inhibition against l-tyrosine and l-DOPA, respectively, as substrate. The results indicate that the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of mulberroside A was greatly enhanced by the bioconversion process.     

Evaluation of aldose reductase inhibition and docking studies of some secondary metabolites, isolated from Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum

Five polar constituents of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum were investigated for their ability to inhibit aldose reductase (ALR2), the first enzyme of the polyol pathway implicated in the secondary complications of diabetes. The most active compound was found to be lithospermic acid B. Caffeic acid was inactive as it showed no inhibitory activity against the enzyme. The order of the inhibitory activity of the remaining compounds was: rosmarinic acid >12-hydroxyjasmonic acid 12-O-beta-glucopyranoside > p-menth-3-ene-1,2-diol 1-O-beta-glucopyranoside. Docking studies have been undertaken to gain insight into the binding mode of the investigated compounds at the active site of ALR2. The predicted hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions may explain the observed inhibitory activity.     

Evaluation of dihydropyrimidin-(2H)-one analogues and rhodanine derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors

A series of dihydropyrimidin-(2H)-one analogues and rhodanine derivatives were synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated. The results showed that some of the synthesized compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activities. Especially, compound 15 bearing a hydroxyethoxyl group at position-4 of phenyl ring exhibited most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 0.56 mM. The inhibition mechanism analysis of compound 15 demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of the compound on the tyrosinase was irreversible. These results suggested that such compounds might be served as lead compounds for further designing new potential tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Vitamin D binding protein-macrophage activating factor directly inhibits proliferation, migration, and uPAR expression of prostate cancer cells

Background

Vitamin D binding protein-macrophage activating factor (DBP-maf) is a potent inhibitor of tumor growth. Its activity, however, has been attributed to indirect mechanisms such as boosting the immune response by activating macrophages and inhibiting the blood vessel growth necessary for the growth of tumors.

Methods and Findings

In this study we show for the first time that DBP-maf exhibits a direct and potent effect on prostate tumor cells in the absence of macrophages. DBP-maf demonstrated inhibitory activity in proliferation studies of both LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines as well as metastatic clones of these cells. Flow cytometry studies with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that this inhibitory activity is not due to apoptosis or cell death. DBP-maf also had the ability to inhibit migration of prostate cancer cells in vitro. Finally, DBP-maf was shown to cause a reduction in urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in prostate tumor cells. There is evidence that activation of this receptor correlates with tumor metastasis.

Conclusions

These studies show strong inhibitory activity of DBP-maf on prostate tumor cells independent of its macrophage activation.     

Effects of temperature and medium composition on inhibitory activities of gossypol‐related compounds against aflatoxigenic fungi

Aims

To investigate the effects of temperature and medium composition on growth/aflatoxin inhibitory activities of terpenoids gossypol, gossypolone and apogossypolone against Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus.

Methods and Results

The compounds were tested at a concentration of 100 μg ml^?1 in a Czapek Dox (Czapek) agar medium at 25, 31 and 37°C. Increased incubation temperature marginally increased growth inhibition caused by these compounds, but reduced the aflatoxin inhibition effected by gossypol. Gossypolone and apogossypolone retained good aflatoxin inhibitory activity against A. flavus and A. parasiticus at higher incubation temperatures. However, increased temperature also significantly reduced aflatoxin production in control cultures. The effects of the terpenoids on fungal growth and aflatoxin production against the same fungi were also determined in Czapek, Czapek with a protein/amino acid addendum and yeast extract sucrose (YES) media. Growth of these fungi in the protein‐supplemented Czapek medium or in the YES medium greatly reduced the growth inhibition effects of the terpenoids. Apogossypolone displayed strong anti‐aflatoxigenic activity in the Czapek medium, but this activity was significantly reduced in the protein‐amended Czapek and YES media. Gossypol, which displayed little to no aflatoxin inhibitory activity in the Czapek medium, did yield significant anti‐aflatoxigenic activity in the YES medium.

Conclusions

Incubation temperature and media composition are important parameters involved in the regulation of aflatoxin production in A. flavus and A. parasiticus. These parameters also affect the potency of growth and aflatoxin inhibitory activities of these gossypol‐related compounds against aflatoxigenic fungi.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Studies utilizing gossypol‐related compounds as inhibitory agents of biological activities should be interpreted with caution due to compound interaction with multiple components of the test system, especially serum proteins.     

α-Glucosidase Inhibitor from the Seeds of Balsam Pear (Momordica charantia) and the Fruit Bodies of Grifola frondosa

α-Glucosidase inhibitory activities were found in aqueous methanol extracts of the seeds of Momordica charantia and the fruit bodies of Grifola frondosa. An active principle against the enzyme prepared from rat small intestine acetone powders was isolated and characterized. The structure of the isolated compound was identified as D-(+)-trehalose by FDMS, ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR, and [α]_D measurements. The inhibitory activity of trehalose was compared with 1-deoxynojirimycin. Trehalose showed 45% inhibitory activity at the concentration of 2×10^?3 M, but 1-deoxynojirimycin had 52% inhibitory activity at 1×10^?7 M.     

Acquisition of growth-inhibitory antibodies against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum

Background

Antibodies that inhibit the growth of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum may play an important role in acquired and vaccine-induced immunity in humans. However, the acquisition and activity of these antibodies is not well understood.

Methods

We tested dialysed serum and purified immunoglobulins from Kenyan children and adults for inhibition of P. falciparum blood-stage growth in vitro using different parasite lines. Serum antibodies were measured by ELISA to blood-stage parasite antigens, extracted from P. falciparum schizonts, and to recombinant merozoite surface protein 1 (42 kDa C-terminal fragment, MSP1-42).

Results

Antibodies to blood-stage antigens present in schizont protein extract and to recombinant MSP1-42 significantly increased with age and were highly correlated. In contrast, growth-inhibitory activity was not strongly associated with age and tended to decline marginally with increasing age and exposure, with young children demonstrating the highest inhibitory activity. Comparison of growth-inhibitory activity among samples collected from the same population at different time points suggested that malaria transmission intensity influenced the level of growth-inhibitory antibodies. Antibodies to recombinant MSP1-42 were not associated with growth inhibition and high immunoglobulin G levels were poorly predictive of inhibitory activity. The level of inhibitory activity against different isolates varied.

Conclusions

Children can acquire growth-inhibitory antibodies at a young age, but once they are acquired they do not appear to be boosted by on-going exposure. Inhibitory antibodies may play a role in protection from early childhood malaria.     

Synthesis and discovery of novel hexacyclic cage compounds as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase

Hexacyclic derivatives share vital pharmacological properties, considered useful in Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this study was synthesis and its evaluation for acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity of novel hexacyclic analogues. Compound 4f, showed potent inhibitory activity against acetyl cholinesterase enzyme with IC₅₀ 0.72 μmol/L.     

Homology modeling and QSAR analysis of 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,3,4-triazole derivatives as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors are very interesting target for designing anticancer (hypoxic) and antiglaucoma drugs. In the present study, a 3D homology modeling of human carbonic anhydrase-IX (hCA-IX) isozyme, based upon the crystal structure of murine CA-XIVA (PDB CODE 1RJ5) was performed, as no experimental 3D structures are available. A homology model of hCA-IX was developed and validated. To explore the responsible physicochemical properties of 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,3,4-triazole derivatives for carbonic anhydrase inhibition, a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) study was performed having hCA-II and hCA-IX inhibitory activity respectively. In hCA-II and hCA-IX inhibitory activities, four significant models with good correlations (> or = 0.945 & > or = 0.926) were obtained; two models (models 1 and 3) were selected based on statistical criterion. The QSAR study revealed that in case of hCA-II, overall increase in size and volume of molecule, introduction of electropositive surfaces might increase the inhibitory activity, whereas in case of hCA-IX, decreasing the hydrophobicity and introduction of electron releasing substituents might increase the hCA-IX inhibitory activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) cultivar Avenger against pathogenic bacteria,phytopathogenic filamentous fungi and yeast

Aims

The objective of this study was to show whether the edible part of broccoli has antibacterial and antifungal activity against micro‐organism of importance in human health and vegetable spoilage, and to test if this effect was partially due to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).

Methods and Results

Crude extracts were obtained from florets and stems of broccoli cultivar Avenger and the inhibitory effect was demonstrated against pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Proteus vulgaris), phytopathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Asperigillus niger) and yeasts (Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp.). It was shown that samples treated with proteolytic enzymes had a reduction of approximately 60% in antibacterial activity against Staph. xylosus, suggesting that proteinaceous compounds might play a role in the inhibitory effect. Antimicrobial components in crude extracts were thermoresistant and the highest activity was observed under acidic conditions. It was shown that antifungal activity of broccoli's crude extracts might not be attributed to chitinases.

Conclusions

Organic broccoli cultivar Avenger has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, yeast and phytophatogenic fungi. Data suggest that this effect is partially due to AMPs.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Broccoli's crude extracts have activity not only against pathogenic bacteria but also against phytophatogenic fungi of importance in agriculture. We suggest for first time that the inhibitory effect is probably due to AMPs.     

Angiotensin-II subtype 2 receptor agonist (CGP-42112) inhibits catecholamine biosynthesis in cultured porcine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells

Angiotensin II subtype 2 receptor (AT(2)-R) is abundantly expressed in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells. However, the physiological roles of AT(2)-R in chromaffin cells remain to be clarified. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CGP42112 (AT(2)-R agonist) on catecholamine biosynthesis in cultured porcine adrenal medullary cells. We initially confirmed AT(2)-R was predominantly expressed in porcine adrenal medullary cells by [(125)I]-Ang II binding studies. CGP42112 (>==1 nM) significantly inhibited cGMP production from the basal value. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamine, and its activity is regulated by both TH-enzyme activity and TH-synthesis. CGP42112 (>==1 nM) significantly inhibited TH-enzyme activity from the basal value. These inhibitory effects of CGP42112 on TH-enzyme activity and-cGMP production were abolished by PD123319 (AT(2)-R antagonist) while CV-11974 (AT(1)-R antagonist) was ineffective. We also tested whether decrease of cGMP is involved in the inhibitory effect of CGP42112 on TH-enzyme activity. Pretreatment of 8-Br-cGMP (membrane-permeable cGMP analogue) prevented the inhibitory effect of CGP 42112 on TH-enzyme activity. Similar to that of TH-enzyme activity, CGP42112 (>==1 nM) significantly reduced TH-mRNA and TH-protein level from the basal value, and these inhibitory effects were abolished by PD123319 but not CV-11974. These findings demonstrate that CGP 42112 reduces both TH-enzyme activity and TH-synthesis and that these inhibitory effects could be mediated by decrease of cGMP production.     

Synthetic conversion of ACAT inhibitor to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

Natural product acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor pyripyropene A was synthetically converted to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor via heterolitic cleavage of the 2-pyrone ring, followed by gamma-acylation/cyclization with several aroyl chlorides. The 4-pyridyl analogue selectively showed AChE inhibitory activity (IC50 7.9 microM) and no ACAT inhibitory activity IC50 = >1000 microM.     

Inhibition of Human Neutrophil Elastase by Pentacyclic Triterpenes

Scope

Inhibiting human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a promising strategy for treating inflammatory lung diseases, such as H1N1 and SARS virus infections. The use of sivelestat, the only clinically registered synthesized HNE inhibitor, is largely limited by its risk of organ toxicity because it irreversibly inhibits HNE. Therefore, potent reversible HNE inhibitors are promising alternatives to sivelestat.

Methods and Results

An in vitro HNE inhibition assay was employed to screen a series of triterpenes. Six pentacyclic triterpenes, but not tetracyclic triterpenes, significantly inhibited HNE. Of these pentacyclic triterpenes, ursolic acid exhibited the highest inhibitory potency (IC₅₀ = 5.51 µM). The HNE inhibitory activity of ursolic acid was further verified using a mouse model of acute smoke-induced lung inflammation. The results of nuclear magnetic resonance and HNE inhibition kinetic analysis showed that the pentacyclic triterpenes competitively and reversibly inhibited HNE. Molecular docking experiments indicated that the molecular scaffold, 28-COOH, and a double bond at an appropriate location in the pentacyclic triterpenes are important for their inhibitory activity.

Conclusion

Our results provide insights into the effects of pentacyclic triterpenes on lung inflammatory actions through reversible inhibition of HNE activity.