Effect of ammonium acetate-induced hyperammonemia on metabolism of guanidino compounds.

Guanidino compounds are synthesized from arginine in various tissues such as liver, kidney, brain, and skeletal muscle. Guanidino compounds such as arginine and creatine play an important role in nitrogen metabolism, whereas other guanidino compounds such as guanidinosuccinic acid and alpha-N-acetylarginine are known toxins. In order to understand the changes in the metabolism of guanidino compounds during ammonia toxicity, we investigated the effect of hyperammonemia induced by an ammonium acetate injection on the levels of guanidino compounds in plasma, liver, kidney, and brain of rats. Control animals were injected with an equal volume of saline. Blood and tissues were removed 1 h following ammonium acetate or saline injection and guanidino compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma and kidney levels of guanidinosuccinic acid were significantly elevated in rats challenged with ammonium acetate. Brain alpha-N-acetylarginine levels were also significantly higher in rats injected with ammonium acetate as compared to those in controls. Our results suggest that guanidinosuccinic acid and alpha-N-acetylarginine may play an important role in hyperammonemia.     

Photoreactivity of indirubin derivatives

Twenty-nine analogs of indirubin, an isomer of indigo, have been synthesized to optimize its promising kinase inhibitory scaffold. These compounds being also pigmented, have been tested for their photoreactivity. Absorption maxima were between 485 nm and 560 nm. Addition of fetal calf serum induced fluorescence and time dependent absorption modifications. Appropriate illumination induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production for nineteen compounds out of twenty-nine. The relationship between fluorescence and ROS production is discussed. Six compounds showed an important toxicity on F98 cells, a murine glioma cell line. Three of these were found to be also phototoxic, as four other non-toxic compounds. All but one phototoxic compounds were detected as ROS producers by in vitro tests. Photoreactivity assessment is important to anticipate adverse reactions for compounds that might be clinically developed. The experimental assay was found to be the only way to evaluate the photoreactivity of this family of compounds since no predictive criteria on structures could be found. Combining the vascular tumor growth inhibition induced by kinase inhibitors with the massive local blood flow arrest following photodynamic treatment may be an efficient anti-cancer strategy. These data could orientate further syntheses of either non-photoreactive compounds or compounds displaying both kinase inhibitory activity and strong phototoxicity.     

Synthesis and biological activity of mustard derivatives of combretastatins

A series of chimeric compounds bearing the combretastatin and the nitrogen mustard cores were synthesized. All the compounds were cytotoxic and inhibited tubulin polymerization. When combretastatin was joined to chlorambucil via an ester linkage, the resultant compound proved to be significantly more potent than the two compounds put together. When combretastatin was joined to nitrogen mustard via an ether linkage or when a true hybrid was synthesized, loss of potency was observed. Nonetheless, these latter compounds appeared to be more efficacious and surprisingly were able to inhibit tubulin depolymerization at high concentrations.     

New ligand-based approach for the discovery of antitrypanosomal compounds

The antitrypanosomal activity of 10 already synthesized compounds was in silico predicted as well as in vitro and in vivo explored against Trypanosoma cruzi. For the computational study, an approach based on non-stochastic linear fingerprints to the identification of potential antichagasic compounds is introduced. Molecular structures of 66 organic compounds, 28 with antitrypanosomal activity and 38 having other clinical uses, were parameterized by means of the TOMOCOMD-CARDD software. A linear classification function was derived allowing the discrimination between active and inactive compounds with a confidence of 95%. As predicted, seven compounds showed antitrypanosomal activity (%AE>70) against epimastigotic forms of T. cruzi at a concentration of 100mug/mL. After an unspecific cytotoxic assay, three compounds were evaluated against amastigote forms of the parasite. An in vivo test was carried out for one of the studied compounds.     

The anti-malarial activity of bivalent imidazolium salts

A series of compounds containing bivalent imidazolium rings and one triazolium analog were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit the replication of Plasmodium falciparum cultures. The activity and selectivity of the compounds for P. falciparum cultures were found to depend on the presence of electron-deficient rings that were spaced an appropriate distance apart. The activity of the compounds was not critically dependent on the nature of the linker between the electron-deficient rings, an observation that suggests that the rings were responsible for the primary interaction with the molecular target of the compounds in the parasite. The bivalent imidazolium and triazolium compounds disrupted the process whereby merozoites gain entry into erythrocytes, however, they did not appear to prevent merozoites from forming. The compounds were also found to be active in a murine Plasmodium berghei infection, a result consistent with the compounds specifically interacting with a parasite component that is required for replication and is conserved between two Plasmodium species.     

Flavonoids as chemosystematic markers in the tribe Cichorieae of the Asteraceae

This review summarizes reports on flavonoids from the Cichorieae (Lactuceae) tribe of the Asteraceae family. A total of 135 different compounds have been reported from 354 taxa belonging to 299 species, including many cultivars of common vegetables like chicory and lettuce. The reported compounds encompass flavanones (11 compounds), flavanonols (2 compounds), flavones (72 compounds), flavonols (35 compounds), anthocyanidins (9 compounds), isoflavonoids (2 compounds), chalcones (3 compounds), and an aurone. So far only 43 of the approximately 100 currently recognized genera of the tribe Cichorieae have been investigated for the occurrence of flavonoids. The distribution of the various classes of flavonoids is analyzed with regards to data from the current molecular-based reassessment of the systematics of the tribe.     

Development of a dot-blot assay for screening monoclonal antibodies to low-molecular-mass drugs

Dot-blot is a versatile and simple analysis to perform. We adapted this method as a simple identity test for monoclonal antibodies to a number of small compounds: three transplant drugs, an anticonvulsant, a steroid, an anticancer drug, and an antibiotic. Immunology-based identity tests using low-molecular-mass organic compounds have historically been a challenge to develop. We modified the traditional dot-blot assay to serve as an identity test for monoclonal antibodies to carbamazepine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, cortisol, methotrexate, and gentamicin. The primary obstacle was the immobilization of these organic compounds on nitrocellulose as nitrocellulose is also soluble in most of the organic solvents in which the compounds are soluble. We evaluated different membranes, solvents, and chemical forms of these organic compounds to overcome this challenge. A number of incubation and washing solutions were also investigated. By varying the chemical form, concentration, and incubation conditions, a set of effective and reproducible identity tests were developed for these monoclonal antibodies.     

Hydrazones of 2-aryl-quinoline-4-carboxylic acid hydrazides: synthesis and preliminary evaluation as antimicrobial agents

A new series of 2-arylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid hydrazide–hydrazones was synthesized using an appropriate synthetic route. All the target compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus as an example for Gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli as an example for Gram-negative bacteria, and Candida albicans as a representative of fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for test compounds as well as for reference standards. Among the compounds tested, compounds having nitro substituents at the arylidene moiety showed the most potent antifungal as well as antibacterial activities against E. coli. Compound 23 displayed an antifungal activity comparable to that of nystatin. However, none of the compounds demonstrated any antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Hydrophobicity of the target compounds correlated weakly with their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The most potent compounds namely, 7, 18, 19, 22, and 23 were assessed for hemolytic toxicity and found to be non-hemolytic up to a concentration of 100 μg/mL. In addition, the most potent compound (23) was evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines. This compound was found to display no cytotoxic activity but rather it induces the proliferation rate of Hep-G2 cells.     

The synthesis and mutagenicity of the 3-ethyl analogues of the potent mutagens IQ, MeIQ, MeIQx and its 3,7-dimethyl isomer

The title compounds were synthesized and tested for mutagenicity on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of S9 mix. All test compounds showed lower activity than their respective 3-methyl analogues (IQ compounds). The replacement of the 3-methyl by an ethyl group should not alter the chemistry of these compounds; hence, their lower mutagenic activity could merely be of steric origin.     

Ingestion of plant secondary compounds causes diuresis in desert herbivores

Plant secondary compounds are recognized deterrents and toxins to a variety of herbivores. The effect of secondary compounds on water balance of herbivores is virtually unexplored, yet secondary compounds could potentially cause a decrease in an animal's ability to maintain water balance. We investigated the effects of secondary compounds, alpha-pinene and creosote resin, on water balance in three species of herbivorous woodrats (Neotoma stephensi, N. albigula, N. lepida). In separate experiments, we measured the effect of these secondary compounds on voluntary water consumption, urine volume and urine osmolarity. In both experiments, water intake and urine volume increased and urine osmolarity decreased compared to controls. Water balance of specialist or experienced woodrats was less affected than generalists and woodrats with less prior experience with particular secondary compounds. Our results suggest that secondary compounds have diuretic-like effects on herbivores. Woodrats live in arid habitats with limited access to freestanding water; thus an increase in water requirements may have profound consequences on foraging behavior and fitness.     

Anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds coupled to Fe(III) reduction by Ferroglobus placidus

Aromatic compounds are an important component of the organic matter in some of the anaerobic environments that hyperthermophilic microorganisms inhabit, but the potential for hyperthermophilic microorganisms to metabolize aromatic compounds has not been described previously. In this study, aromatic metabolism was investigated in the hyperthermophile Ferroglobus placidus . F. placidus grew at 85°C in anaerobic medium with a variety of aromatic compounds as the sole electron donor and poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide as the electron acceptor. Growth coincided with Fe(III) reduction. Aromatic compounds supporting growth included benzoate, phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, benzaldehyde, p -hydroxybenzaldehyde and t -cinnamic acid (3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid). These aromatic compounds did not support growth when nitrate was provided as the electron acceptor, even though nitrate supports the growth of this organism with Fe(II) or H₂ as the electron donor. The stoichiometry of benzoate and phenol uptake and Fe(III) reduction indicated that F. placidus completely oxidized these aromatic compounds to carbon dioxide, with Fe(III) serving as the sole electron acceptor. This is the first example of an Archaea that can anaerobically oxidize an aromatic compound. These results also demonstrate for the first time that hyperthermophilic microorganisms can anaerobically oxidize aromatic compounds and suggest that hyperthermophiles may metabolize aromatic compounds in hot environments such as the deep hot subsurface and in marine and terrestrial hydrothermal zones in which Fe(III) is available as an electron acceptor.     

The Occurrence of Quinic Acid in Sweet Potato Roots

The aroma extract dilution analysis of an extract prepared from pork stock and subsequent experiments led to the identification of 15 aroma-active compounds in the flavor dilution factor range of 64–2048. Omission experiments to select the most aroma-active compounds from the 15 odor compounds suggested acetol, octanoic acid, δ-decalactone, and decanoic acid as the main active compounds contributing to the aroma of pork stock. Aroma recombination, addition, and omission experiments of these four aroma compounds in taste-reconstituted pork stock showed that each compound had an individual aroma profile. A comparison of the overall aroma between this recombined mixture and pork stock showed strong similarity, suggesting that the key aroma compounds had been successfully identified.     

Interactions of safrole and isosafrole and their metabolites with cytochromes P-450

The structural features which determine interaction of safrole and related methylenedioxyphenyl compounds with cytochromes P-450 or P-448, and determine the induction of these two classes of the cytochrome, have been studied. All methylenedioxyphenyl compounds studied interact with both cytochromes P-450 and P-448 eliciting type I spectral changes and it has been found that the allyl 4-substituent is important in these interactions. Methylenedioxyphenyl compounds with an oxidised allyl 4-substituent exhibited higher affinity for cytochrome P-448 while those possessing an intact allyl or methylvinyl group generally showed higher affinity for cytochrome P-450. Compounds possessing intact allyl and methylenedioxyphenyl groups (safrole, isosafrole and myristicine) were the most potent inducers of cytochromes P-450 and P-448; compounds containing an intact allyl group only (estragole, allybenzene and eugenol methyl ether) or an oxidized allyl group and an intact methylenedioxyphenyl group (epoxysafrole) were inducers of P-448 only.     

Role of hydrophobicity on the monoamine receptor binding affinities of central nervous system drugs: a quantitative retention-activity relationships analysis using biopartitioning micellar chromatography

Biological action and activity reflect an aspect of the fundamental physicochemical properties of the bioactive compounds. As an alternative to classical QSAR studies, in this work different quantitative retention-activity relationships (QRAR) models are proposed, which are able to describe the role of hydrophobicity on the binding affinity to different brain monoamine receptors (H(1)-histamine, alpha(1)-noradrenergic and 5-HT(2)-serotonergic) of different families of psychotherapeutic drugs. The retention of compounds is measured in a biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC) system using Brij-35 mobile phases. The adequacy of the QRAR models developed is due to the fact that both the retention of compounds in BMC and the drug-receptor interaction are described by the same hydrophobic, electronic and steric properties of compounds. The obtained results indicate that, for structurally related compounds that present the same molecular features as the basic pharmacophore, there is a retention range in which compounds present the highest affinity to all of monoamine receptors.     

Effect of water and temperature stress on the content of active constituents of Hypericum brasiliense Choisy.

Hypericum brasiliense is a medicinal herb containing several compounds with important pharmacological activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of water stress (waterlogging and drought) and temperature (low and high, constant and alternate) on the content of betulinic acid and phenolic compounds (quercetin, rutin, 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone, isouliginosin B) in this species. In general, the water stress increased the levels of all of the compounds analyzed, particularly some of the phenolic compounds. On the other hand, the responses to alternating temperatures varied according to the compound. The results for plants kept in growth chambers indicated that low light intensity might have influenced the levels of the compounds. There was also a reallocation of carbon, with water-stressed plants showing a reduction in growth while the levels of the compounds increased. In the temperature treatments, such an increase was evident only for the phenolic compounds.     

The Salmonella mutagenicity test: evaluation of 29 drug candidates

The Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames assay) is part of the routine screening battery applied to all new drugs at The Upjohn Company. The purpose of this paper is to report results for 29 compounds. These compounds are very diverse in chemical structure and represent classes of compounds selected because of known biological activity and other reasons. None of the compounds reported here produced an increase in revertant colonies in the Salmonella strains employed (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538) and therefore the Salmonella mutagenicity results with these materials do not suggest potential for mutagenesis or carcinogenesis.     

Biodegradability of chlorinated solvents and related chlorinated aliphatic compounds

The biodegradability of chlorinated methanes, chlorinated ethanes, chlorinated ethenes, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chlorinated acetic acids, chlorinated propanoids and chlorinated butadienes was evaluated based on literature data. Evidence for the biodegradation of compounds in all of the compound categories evaluated has been reported. A broad range of chlorinated aliphatic structures are susceptible to biodegradation under a variety of physiological and redox conditions. Microbial biodegradation of a wide variety of chlorinated aliphatic compounds was shown to occur under five physiological conditions. However, any given physiological condition could only act upon a subset of the chlorinated compounds. Firstly, chlorinated compounds are used as an electron donor and carbon source under aerobic conditions. Secondly, chlorinated compounds are cometabolized under aerobic conditions while the microorganisms are growing (or otherwise already have grown) on another primary substrate. Thirdly, chlorinated compounds are also degraded under anaerobic conditions in which they are utilized as an electron donor and carbon source. Fourthly, chlorinated compounds can serve as an electron acceptor to support respiration of anaerobic microorganisms utilizing simple electron donating substrates. Lastly chlorinated compounds are subject to anaerobic cometabolism becoming biotransformed while the microorganisms grow on other primary substrate or electron acceptor. The literature survey demonstrates that, in many cases, chlorinated compounds are completely mineralised to benign end products. Additionally, biodegradation can occur rapidly. Growth rates exceeding 1 d^-1 were observed for many compounds. Most compound categories include chlorinated structures that are used to support microbial growth. Growth can be due to the use of the chlorinated compound as an electron donor or alternatively to the use of the chlorinated compound as an electron acceptor (halorespiration). Biodegradation linked to growth is important, since under such conditions, rates of degradation will increase as the microbial population (biocatalyst) increases. Combinations of redox conditions are favorable for the biodegradation of highly chlorinated structures that are recalcitrant to degradation under aerobic conditions. However, under anaerobic conditions, highly chlorinated structures are partially dehalogenated to lower chlorinated counterparts. The lower chlorinated compounds are subsequently more readily mineralized under aerobic conditions.     

Cytotoxic mechanism of selenomethionine in yeast

Although selenium is an essential element, its excessive uptake is detrimental to living organisms. The significance of selenium for living organisms has been exploited for various purposes. However, the molecular basis of selenium toxicity is not completely understood. Here, we applied a capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach to analysis of yeast cells treated with selenomethionine. The data indicated that intracellular thiol compounds are significantly decreased, and diselenide and selenosulfide compounds are increased in selenomethionine-treated cells. The growth defect induced by selenomethionine was recovered by extracellular addition of cysteine and by genetic modification of yeast cells that have an additional de novo synthetic pathway for cysteine. Because cysteine is an intermediate of thiol compounds, these results suggested that the loss of a reduced form of thiol compounds due to selenomethionine causes a growth defect of yeast cells.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and identification of polyphenolic compounds from the infusion of Davilla elliptica St. Hill

The isolation of polyphenolic compounds from an infusion of the Brazilian plant Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae), used as tea by virtue of its digestive properties, is described. An improved preparative HPLC method was used in order to isolate pure polyphenols from the complex mixture. Liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction were employed to minimise the interference of polymeric compounds and to provide an enriched fraction of the compounds of interest. The identification of the isolated compounds was performed using analytical HPLC as well as direct injection electrospray ionisation ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS/MS). The high flavonoid content suggests that D. elliptica may be a promising source of compounds to produce natural phytomedicines.     

Relationship between the structures of taxane derivatives and their microtubule polymerization activity

Paclitaxel (Taxol), one of the most potent anticancer drugs, is a microtubule-stabilizing compound that inhibits microtubule depolymerization within the cell. The structure of paclitaxel is composed of two key elements, a taxane ring and an N-benzoylphenylisoserine side chain at C-13. A number of natural and artificial compounds with taxane skeletons have been isolated, but almost none of their bioactivities have been evaluated. In this study, we focused on compounds having a taxane skeleton structure and examined their effects on tubulin dynamics. Although none of these compounds had an N-benzoylphenylisoserine side chain, three were found to promote tubulin assembly. On the other hand, one compound inhibited tubluin assembly in a way similar to nocodazole. These compounds exhibited novel structure-activity relationships of taxane compounds.