Synthesis and in vitro anti-hepatitis B and C virus activities of ring-expanded ('fat') nucleobase analogues containing the imidazo[4,5-e][1,3]diazepine-4,8-dione ring system

As part of our structure–activity relationship studies, we report here the synthesis and in vitro anti-HBV and anti-HCV activities of a number of ring-expanded (‘fat’) nucleobases containing the imidazo[4,5-e][1,3]diazepine-4,8-dione ring system. One of the compounds, ZP-88, exhibited a good activity/toxicity profile against HBV by inhibition of the synthesis of extracellular virion release (EC₅₀ = 1.7 μM, CC₅₀ = 286 μM, SI = 168) and intracellular HBV replication intermediates (EC₅₀ = 8.4 μM, CC₅₀ = 286 μM, SI = 34) in cultured human hepatoblastoma 2.2.15 cells. By contrast, most of the compounds tested against HCV had only marginal activity/toxicity profile, although that was still better than that of the reference compound ribavirin.     

Synthesis, spectral studies and in vitro assessment for antiamoebic activity of new cyclooctadiene ruthenium(II) complexes with 5-nitrothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones

We report here the synthesis, characterization and in vitro antiamoebic activity of 5-nitrothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones (TSC), 1–5, and their bidentate complexes [Ru(η⁴-C₈H₁₂)(TSC)Cl₂] 1a–5a. The biological studies of these compounds were investigated against HK-9 strain of Entamoeba histolytica and the concentration causing 50% cell growth inhibition (IC₅₀) was calculated in the micromolar range. The ligands exhibited antiamoebic activity in the range (2.05–5.29 μM). Screening results indicated that the potencies of the compounds increased by the incorporation of ruthenium(II) in the thiosemicarbazones. The complexes 1a–5a showed antiamoebic activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.61–1.43 μM and were better inhibitors of growth of E. histolytica, based on IC₅₀ values. The most promising among them is Ru(II) complex 2a having 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline as N⁴ substitution.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity of 5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium infections cause the two most important mycobacterioses, leading to increased mortality in patients with AIDS. Various 5-substituted 2′-deoxyuridines, uridines, 2′-O-methyluridine, 2′-ribofluoro-2′-deoxyuridines, 3′-substituted-2′,3′-dideoxy uridines, 2′,3′-dideoxyuridines, and 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyuridines were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity against M. bovis and M. avium. 5-(C-1 Substituted)-2′-deoxyuridine derivatives emerged as potent inhibitors of M. avium (MIC₉₀ = 1–5 μg/mL range). The nature of C-5 substituents in the 2′-deoxyuridine series appeared to be a determinant of anti-mycobacterial activity. This new class of inhibitors could serve as useful compounds for the design and study of new anti-tuberculosis agents.     

Anti-proliferative lichen compounds with inhibitory activity on 12(S)-HETE production in human platelets

Several lichen compounds, i.e. lobaric acid (1), a β-orcinol depsidone from Stereocaulon alpinum L., (+)-protolichesterinic acid (2), an aliphatic -methylene-γ-lactone from Cetraria islandica Laur. (Parmeliaceae), (+)-usnic acid (3), a dibenzofuran from Cladonia arbuscula (Wallr.) Rabenh. (Cladoniaceae), parietin (4), an anthraquinone from Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr. (Calaplacaceae) and baeomycesic acid (5), a β-orcinol depside isolated from Thamnolia vermicularis (Sw.) Schaer. var. subuliformis (Ehrh.) Schaer. were tested for inhibitory activity on platelet-type 12(S)-lipoxygenase using a cell-based in vitro system in human platelets. Lobaric acid (1) and (+)-protolichesterinic acid (2) proved to be pronounced inhibitors of platelet-type 12(S)-lipoxygenase, whereas baeomycesic acid (5) showed only weak activity (inhibitory activity at a concentration of 100 μg/ml: 1 93.4±6.62%, 2 98,5±1.19%, 5 14.7±2.76%). Usnic acid (3) and parietin (4) were not active at this concentration. 1 and 2 showed a clear dose–response relationship in the range of 3.33–100 μg/ml. According to the calculated IC₅₀ values the highest inhibitory activity was observed for the depsidone 1 (IC₅₀=28.5 μM) followed by 2 (IC₅₀=77.0 μM). The activity of 1 was comparable to that of the flavone baicalein, which is known as a selective 12(S)-lipoxygenase inhibitor (IC₅₀=24.6 μM).     

Dithioerythritol (DTE) prevents inhibitory effects of triphenyltin (TPT) on the key enzymes of the human sex steroid hormone metabolism

Organotins are known to induce imposex (pseudohermaphroditism) in marine neogastropods and are suggested to act as specific endocrine disruptors, inhibiting the enzyme-mediated conversion of steroid hormones. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro effects of triphenyltin (TPT) on human 5-reductase type 2 (5-Re 2), cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17β-HSD 3), 3β-HSD type 2 and 17β-HSD type 1 activity. First, the present study demonstrates that significant amounts of TPT occurred in the blood of eight human volunteers (0.17–0.67 μg organotin cation/l, i.e. 0.49–1.92 nmol cation/l). Second, TPT showed variable inhibitory effects on all the enzymes investigated. The mean IC₅₀ values were 0.95 μM for 5-Re 2 (mean of n=4 experiments), 1.5 μM for P450arom (n=5), 4.0 μM for 3β-HSD 2 (n=1), 4.2 μM for 17β-HSD 3 (n=3) and 10.5 μM for 17β-HSD 1 (n=3). To exclude the possibility that the impacts of TPT are mediated by oxidizing essential thiol residues of the enzymes, the putative compensatory effects of the reducing agent dithioerythritol (DTE) were investigated. Co-incubation with DTE (n=3) resulted in dose-response prevention of the inhibitory effects of 100 μM deleterious TPT concentrations on 17β-HSD 3 (EC₅₀ value of 12.9 mM; mean of n=3 experiments), 3β-HSD 2 (0.90 mM; n=3), P450arom (0.91 mM; n=3) and 17β-HSD 1 (0.21 mM; n=3) activity. With these enzymes, the use of 10 mM DTE resulted in an at least 80% antagonistic effect, whereas, the effect of TPT on 5-Re 2 was not compensated. In conclusion, the present study shows that TPT acts as an unspecific, but significant inhibitor of human sex steroid hormone metabolism and suggests that the inhibitory effects are mediated by the interaction of TPT with critical cysteine residues of the enzymes.     

4-alkylidene-azetidin-2-ones: novel inhibitors of leukocyte elastase and gelatinase

In addition to their antibiotic potency, β-lactams have recently been investigated as inhibitors of serine proteinase such as leukocyte elastase (LE), released by inflammatory cells. We describe the synthesis of a series of 4-alkylidene-β-lactams, and investigate how substitutions on C-3, C-4, and N-1 of the β-lactam ring affect the activity of human LE and gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9. LE activity was measured using a chromogenic substrate, while gelatin-zymography assay was used to evaluate gelatinase activity. We demonstrate that C-4 unsaturation on the β-lactam ring determines the degree of biological activity, with a selectivity over LE by 3-[1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-ethyl] derivatives (lowest IC₅₀ was 4 μM), and over gelatinase MMP-2 by C-3-unsubstituted 4-[1-ethoxycarbonyl]-ethylidene-β-lactams (lowest IC₅₀ was 60 μM). (3S)-3-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-4-(1-ethoxycarbonyl)-ethylidene-azetidin-2-one inhibits gelatinase MMP-9. The compounds tested showed no cytotoxicity against NIH-3T3 murine fibroblasts. This is the first example of beta-lactams inhibiting metallo-proteinases instrumental in cancer invasion and angiogenesis. These molecules are good candidates for prototype drugs showing selective antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-invasion properties.     

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activities of N-quinolin-8-yl-arylsulfonamides

In the present paper 12 N-quinolin-8-yl-arylsulfonamides synthesized by coupling 8-aminoquinolines with various arylsulfonylchlorides were assayed in vitro against Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania chagasi and Trypanosoma cruzi strains. This series of new compounds were found to be selective for Leishmania spp. promastigote and amastigote forms. The most active compound was the N-(8-quinolyl)-3,5-difluoro-benzenesulfonamide 10 with an IC₅₀ against L. amazonensis and L. chagasi of 2.12 and 0.45 μM, respectively. The less cytotoxic biphenyl derivative 7 was very effective against intracellular L. amazonensis with a reduction of macrophage cell infection of 82.1% at 25 μM. In addition, a copper complex 17 of an inactive ligand was readily synthesized and showed high leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity against both extra and intracellular forms.     

Modification at the C9 position of the marine natural product isoaaptamine and the impact on HIV-1, mycobacterial, and tumor cell activity

As part of an investigation to generate optimized drug leads from marine natural pharmacophores for the treatment of neoplastic and infectious diseases, a series of novel isoaaptamine analogs were prepared by coupling acyl halides to the C9 position of isoaaptamine (2) isolated from the Aaptos sponge. This library of new semisynthetic products was evaluated for biological activity against HIV-1, Mtb, AIDS-OI, tropical parasitic diseases, and cancer. Compound 4 showed potent activity against HIV-1 (EC₅₀ 0.47 μg/mL), compound 19 proved to possess remarkable activity against Mycobacterium intracellulare with an IC₅₀ and MIC value of 0.15 and 0.31 μg/mL, while compounds 4 and 17 possessed anti-leishmanial activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.1 and 0.4 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds 16 and 17 showed antimalarial activity with EC₅₀ values of 230 and 240 ng/mL, respectively, and compound 14 exhibited an EC₅₀ of 0.05 μM against the Leukemia cell line K-562.     

Polyphosphates strongly inhibit the tRNA dependent synthesis of poly(A) catalyzed by poly(A) polymerase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Polyphosphates of different chain lengths (P₃, P₄, P₁₅, P₃₅), (1 μM) inhibited 10, 60, 90 and 100%, respectively, the primer (tRNA) dependent synthesis of poly(A) catalyzed poly(A) polymerase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relative inhibition evoked by p₄A and P₄ (1 μM) was 40 and 60%, respectively, whereas 1 μM Ap₄A was not inhibitory. P₄ and P₁₅ were assayed as inhibitors of the enzyme in the presence of (a) saturating tRNA and variable concentrations of ATP and (b) saturating ATP and variable concentrations of tRNA. In (a), P₄ and P₁₅ behaved as competitive inhibitors, with K_i values of 0.5 μM and 0.2 μM, respectively. In addition, P₄ (at 1 μM) and P₁₅ (at 0.3 μM) changed the Hill coefficient (n_H) from 1 (control) to about 1.3 and 1.6, respectively. In (b), the inhibition by P₄ and P₁₅ decreased V and modified only slightly the K_m values of the enzyme towards tRNA.     

In vitro antiprotozoal activity of the lipophilic extracts of different parts of Turkish Pistacia vera L.

Thirteen lipophilic extracts prepared with n-hexane from various parts of Pistacia vera L. tree (Anacardiaceae) growing in Turkey were screened for their in vitro activity against four parasitic protozoa, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum. Melarsoprol, benznidazole, miltefosine, artemisinin and chloroquine were used as reference drugs. The cytotoxic potentials of the extracts on rat skeletal myoblast (L6) cells were also assessed and compared to that of podophyllotoxin. The screening method employed was medium-throughput, where the extracts were tested at two concentrations, at 0.8 and 4.8 μg/ml (T. brucei rhodesiense, L. donovani and Plasmodium falciparum), or at 1.6 and 9.7 μg/ml (T. cruzi and L6 cells). At 4.8 μg/ml concentration, the branch extract of Pistacia vera (PV-BR) significantly inhibited (77.3%) the growth of L. donovani, whereas the dry leaf extract (PV-DL) was active against Plasmodium falciparum (60.6% inhibition). The IC₅₀ values of these extracts were determined as 2.3 μg/ml (PV-BR, L. donovani) and 3.65 μg/ml (PV-DL, Plasmodium falciparum). None of the extracts possessed cytotoxicity on mammalian cells.     

Cholinesterase inhibitory and spasmolytic potential of steroidal alkaloids

A new steroidal alkaloid, isosarcodine (1) along with four known bases, sarcorine (2), sarcodine (3), sarcocine (4) and alkaloid-C (5) were isolated from the MeOH extract of Sarcococca saligna. The structures of these alkaloids were identified by spectral data interpretation. These compounds were subjected to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition studies, and were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors of AChE (K_i = 21.8, 90.3, 32.2, 16.0 and 50.0 μM, respectively) and uncompetitive or noncompetitive inhibitors of BChE (K_i = 8.3, 7.5, 15.6, 5.0 and 12.0 μM, respectively).

The compounds (2–5) also showed dose-dependent spasmolytic activity in the rabbit jejunum intestinal preparations and also relaxed the high K⁺ (80 mM)-induced contraction, indicative of a calcium channel-blocking mechanism.

Structure–activity relationship suggested that the nitrogen substituents at C-3 and/or C-20 of steroidal skeleton and the hydrophobic properties of the pregnane skeleton are the key structural features contributed to the inhibitory potency of these steroidal alkaloids against AChE and BChE.     

Anti-allergic substances from the rhizomes of Dioscorea membranacea

Extracts of five species of Thai medicinal plants, locally known as Hua-Khao-Yen, were screened for anti-allergic activities using RBL-2H3 cells. Of the five species studied, the ethanolic extract of Dioscorea membranacea exhibited potent inhibitory activity against β-hexosaminidase release as a marker of degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 37.5 μg/mL. Eight compounds were isolated from this crude ethanolic extract, [two naphthofuranoxepins (1, 2), one phenanthraquinone (3), three steroids (4–6), and two steroidal saponins (7, 8)], and tested for their anti-allergic activities. The results showed that dioscorealide B (2) possessed the highest activity with an IC₅₀ value of 5.7 μM, followed by dioscoreanone (3, IC₅₀ = 7.7 μM), dioscorealide A (1, IC₅₀ = 27.9 μM), and diosgenin (9, IC₅₀ = 29.9 μM). Structure–activity relationship studies of naphthofuranoxepins on anti-allergic activity revealed that the hydroxylation at position 8 conferred higher activity than methoxylation. For diosgenin derivatives, the aglycone was found to possess higher activity than the diglucosylated molecule; whereas substitution with rhamnoglucosides apparently results in loss of activity. Furthermore, effects of dioscorealide A, dioscorealide B, and dioscoreanone on antigen-induced release of TNF- and IL-4 in the late phase reaction were also examined.     

Microwave-assisted, one-pot syntheses and fungicidal activity of polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles

Polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles 3a–l are prepared via a microwave-assisted, one-pot procedure. The advantages, such as good to excellent yields, shorter reaction time (14–21 min), readily available starting material, and simple purification procedure, distinguish the present protocol from other existing methods used for the synthesis of 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles. Bioassay indicated that most of the compounds showed significant fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinereapers, and Dothiorella gregaria at a dosage of 50 μg/mL. Interestingly, compared to the control of commercial fungicide, triadimefon, compound 3c exhibited much higher activities against R. solani, B. cinereapers, and D. gregaria, which showed that the polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles can be used as lead compound for developing novel fungicides.     

Ring-substituted quinolines. Part 2: Synthesis and antimycobacterial activities of ring-substituted quinolinecarbohydrazide and ring-substituted quinolinecarboxamide analogues

Additional structural modifications of the new chemical entity, 2,8-dicyclopentyl-4-methylquinoline (DCMQ; MIC = 6.25 μg/mL, M. tuberculosis H37Rv) resulted in the synthesis of four new series of the ring-substituted quinolinecarbohydrazides (series 1–4) constituting 22 analogues. All new derivatives were evaluated for in vitro antimycobacterial activities against drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Certain ring-substituted-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide analogues described herein showed good inhibitory activity. In particular, analogues 4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2d), 4,5-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2e), 4,8-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2f), and 4,5-dicyclohexyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2g) have exhibited the MIC value of 6.25 μg/mL. Further investigation of the most suitable lead prototype, 4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2d, series 1) led to the synthesis of N2-alkyl/N2,N2-dialkyl/N2-aryl-4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarboxamides (series 5) consisting of 13 analogues. Some of the synthesized carboxamides 7a, 7h, and 7m reported herein have exhibited excellent antimycobacterial activities in the range of 6.25–3.125 μg/mL against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis H37Rv strains.     

Synthesis and antitrypanosomal profile of new functionalized 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-arylhydrazone derivatives, designed as non-mutagenic megazol analogues

In this work we reported the synthesis and the trypanocidal profile of new 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-arylhydrazone derivatives of nitroimidazole series (4) or phenyl series (5), designed by exploring the molecular hybridization approach between megazol (2) and guanyl hydrazone derivative (3). The evaluation of the activity against bloodstream trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi forms lead us to identify a new potent trypamomicide prototype, that is, brazilizone A (4k), which present an IC₅₀/24 h = 5.3 μM.     

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of extract and constituents from Esenbeckia febrifuga, a plant traditionally used to treat malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

Esenbeckia febrifuga (Rutaceae) is a plant traditionally used to treat malaria in the Brazilian Amazon region. Ethanol extract of stems displayed a good antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains W-2 (IC₅₀ 15.5±0.71 μg/ml) and 3 D7 (IC₅₀ 21.0±1.4 μg/ml). Two coumarins (bergaptene 1 and isopimpinellin 2), five alkaloids (flindersiamine 3, kokusaginine 4, skimmiamine 5, γ-fagarine 6 and 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methylacridone, 7), besides a limonoid (rutaevine 8), have been isolated for the first time from this species. Antiplasmodial activity of compounds 3, 5–8 has been evaluated in vitro against P. falciparum strains (W-2 and 3D7) and the furoquinolines 5 and 6 were the most potent displaying IC₅₀ values <50 μg/ml; flindersiamine (3) showed a weak activity while alkaloid 7 and rutaevine (8) were inactive (IC₅₀>100 μg/ml).     

The presence of the potentially toxic genera Ostreopsis and Coolia (Dinophyceae) in the North Aegean Sea, Greece

The examination of macrophyte, water and sediment samples, collected at depths less than 1.5 m from 50 different sites along the North Aegean coasts, has revealed, for the first time in Greek coastal waters, the presence of two Ostreopsis species (O. ovata and O. cf. siamensis) and Coolia monotis in the majority of the sampling sites (94% and 100%, respectively). Other epiphytic dinoflagellates of the genera Prorocentrum and Amphidinium and diatoms were accompanying species in this epiphytic community. Morphometric features, plate formula and thecal ornamentation were used for species identification. O. ovata cells were smaller in dorsoventral (DV) diameter and width (W) (26.18–61.88 μm and 13.09–47.60 μm, respectively) in comparison with O. cf. siamensis (35.70–65.45 μm and 23.80–49.98 μm, respectively). In contrast, the anterioposterior (AP) diameter of O. cf. siamensis was smaller (14.28–26.18 μm) resulting in DV/AP ≈ 3, whereas the above ratio for O. ovata was less than 2 (AP ranging between 14.28–35.70 μm). Moreover, the theca of O. ovata cells was ornamented with scattered pores, which fluctuated in a wider range (0.07–0.32 μm) than those of O. cf. siamensis (0.23–0.29 μm). Coolia monotis cells were almost round with average DV diameter 26.88 μm, AP 25.66 μm and width 26.76 μm. Small and large cells were recorded in both field and culture populations of Ostreopsis spp. and C. monotis, while hyaline cysts were observed for O. ovata. The presence of O. ovata and O. cf. siamensis exhibited a clear seasonal pattern dominating (maximum abundance up to 4.05 × 10⁵ cells gr⁻¹ fwm) the period from midsummer to late autumn in years 2003 and 2004, while C. monotis was found also in winter and spring months.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel thermostable non-specific lipid transfer protein-like antimicrobial protein from motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Houtt) seeds

In screening for potent antimicrobial proteins from plant seeds, a novel heat-stable antimicrobial protein, designated LJAMP2, was purified from seeds of the motherwort (Leonurus japonicus Houtt), a medicine herb, with a procedure involving cation exchange chromatography on a CM FF column, and reverse phase HPLCs on C8 column and C18 column. LJAMP2 exhibited a molecular mass of 6.2 kDa determined. Automated Edman degradation determined the partial N-terminal sequence of LJAMP2 to be NH2-AIGCNTVASKMAPCLPYVTGKGPLGGCCGGVKGLIDAARTTPDRQAVCNCLKTLAKSYSG, which displays homology with plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs). In vitro bioassays showed that LJAMP2 inhibits the growth of a variety of microbes, including filamentous fungi, bacteria and yeast. The growth of three phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria brassicae, Botrytis maydis, and Rhizoctonia cerealis, are inhibited at 7.5 μM of LJAMP2, whereas Bacillus subtilis is about 15 μM. The IC₅₀ of LJAMP2 for Aspergillus niger, B. maydis, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium digitatum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are 5.5, 6.1, 9.3, 40.0, and 76.0 μM, respectively.     

Antimicrobial acylphloroglucinols and dibenzyloxy flavonoids from flowers of Helichrysum gymnocomum

From the dichloromethane extract of the flowers of Helichrysum gymnocomum (Asteraceae) two known flavonoids, 4 and 5, and a known acylphloroglucinol, 3B, were isolated. In addition to 1 and 2, the 4′,6′-dibenzyloxy-2′-hydroxy derivative of 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxychalcone and 5,7-dibenzyloxy derivative of pinocembrin, respectively, are reported in Nature for the first time. A compound 3A, related to 3B has the structure 2-methyl-1-[2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)phenyl]-1-propanone. Compounds 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5 have MIC values below 64 μg/ml against a selection of pathogens, with 3B having the highest sensitivity (6.3–45 μg/ml) for eight of the ten pathogens tested, including Staphylococcus aureus (6.3 μg/ml) and methicillin and gentamycin resistant strain of S. aureus (7.8 μg/ml). With the exception of 2, the other compounds had notable activity (45–63 μg/ml) towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa.