Stopped-flow investigation of antioxidant activity of estrogens in solution

A kinetic study of the reaction between estrogens (female hormone) and substituted phenoxyl radical has been performed, as a model for the reactions of estrogens with lipid peroxyl radical in biological systems. The rates of reaction of estrogens (estrone 1, estradiol 2, 2-methoxyestrone 3, 3-methoxyestrone 4, and 2-hydroxyestrone 5) with substituted phenoxyl radical in benzene have been determined spectrophotometrically, using stopped-flow technique. The second-order rate constants, k2, obtained are 84 M-1.s-1 for 1, 138 M-1.s-1 for 2, 520 M-1.s-1 for 3, less than 10(-4) M-1.s-1 for 4, and 2.6 X 10(5) M-1.s-1 for 5 at 25.0 degrees C. 2-Hydroxyestrone 5 was found to be 2.9-times more active than alpha-tocopherol, which has the highest antioxidant activity among natural tocopherols. The order of magnitude of k2 value (1 less than 2 less than 3 less than alpha-Toc less than 5) is in agreement with that of in vitro tests of their antioxidant activities, as measured by the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Further, similar measurements have been performed for the reaction between the above estrogens 1-5 and tocopheroxyl 6 in benzene solution. It was found that the estrogens having an OH group at the aromatic ring have an ability to regenerate the tocopheroxyl 6 to tocopherol. Especially, the 2-hydroxyestrone 5 showed about three orders of magnitude higher reactivity than ascorbic acid.     

Inhibition of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 by tocopherols and alpha-tocopherol derivatives.

alpha-Tocopherol inhibits glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1) (R.I.M. van Haaften, C.T.A. Evelo, G.R.M.M. Haenen, A. Bast, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 280 (2001)). In various cosmetic and dietary products alpha-tocopherol is added as a tocopherol ester. Therefore we have studied the effect of various tocopherol derivatives on GST P1-1 activity. It was found that GST P1-1 is inhibited, in a concentration dependent manner, by these compounds. Of the compounds tested, the tocopherols were the most potent inhibitors of GST P1-1; the concentration giving 50% inhibition (IC(50)) is <1 microM. The esterified tocopherols and alpha-tocopherol quinone also inhibit the GST P1-1 activity at a very low concentration: for most compounds the IC(50) was below 10 microM. RRR-alpha-Tocopherol acetate lowered the V(max) values, but did not affect the K(m) for either 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene or GSH. This indicates that the GST P1-1 enzyme is non-competitively inhibited by RRR-alpha-tocopherol acetate. The potential implications of GST P1-1 inhibition by tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol derivatives are discussed.     

Studies on the antioxidant activity of some thiazolidinedione,imidazolidinedione and rhodanine derivatives having a flavone core

A series of flavonyl‐2,4‐thiazolidinedione, imidazolidinedione and rhodanine derivatives were tested for their antioxidant activity as scavengers of oxygen free radicals. Free radical scavenging activities, including superoxide anion radical , hydroxyl radical (HO^?) and 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical have been evaluated using chemiluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance and spin trapping with 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline‐1‐oxide as a spin trap. Potassium superoxide in dimethylsulfoxide and 18‐crown‐6 ether were used for the production of . Hydroxyl radical was generated using the Fenton reaction. Ten of the eleven examined compounds exhibited decrease in chemiluminescence, but there were large differences in the decrease, ranging from 16% to 89%; also, two of these compounds increased light emission by about 200%. On the contrary, all compounds tested exhibited 30–68% scavenging HO^? and 25–96% scavenging the DPPH^? radical respectively. Possible mechanisms are proposed to explain the results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of new phorbol derivatives having ethereal side chain and evaluation of their anti-HIV activity

Several new phorbol derivatives having ethereal substituents at the 12-position were synthesized and subjected to biological evaluation to find new candidates of an anti-HIV agent. Among them, 12-O-(methoxymethyl)phorbol 13-decanoate showed potent inhibitory activity against infection of HIV-1 in MT-4 cells (EC50: 1.3 ng/mL) and relatively low cytotoxicity (CC50: 8.3 microg/mL). This compound was also found to have sufficient stability in mouse plasma compared with the corresponding 12-acetate derivative, which was an equipotent HIV-1 inhibitor, but with an activity that decreased considerably after plasma treatment.     

Characterization of tocopherol cyclases from higher plants and cyanobacteria. Evolutionary implications for tocopherol synthesis and function

Tocopherols are lipophilic antioxidants synthesized exclusively by photosynthetic organisms and collectively constitute vitamin E, an essential nutrient for both humans and animals. Tocopherol cyclase (TC) catalyzes the conversion of various phytyl quinol pathway intermediates to their corresponding tocopherols through the formation of the chromanol ring. Herein, the molecular and biochemical characterization of TCs from Arabidopsis (VTE1 [VITAMIN E 1]), Zea mays (SXD1 [Sucrose Export Deficient 1]) and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (slr1737) are described. Mutations in the VTE1, SXD1, or slr1737 genes resulted in both tocopherol deficiency and the accumulation of 2,3-dimethyl-6-phytyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DMPBQ), a TC substrate. Recombinant SXD1 and VTE1 proteins are able to convert DMPBQ to gamma-tocopherol in vitro. In addition, expression of maize SXD1 in a Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 slr1737 knockout mutant restored tocopherol synthesis, indicating that TC activity is evolutionarily conserved between plants and cyanobacteria. Sequence analysis identified a highly conserved 30-amino acid C-terminal domain in plant TCs that is absent from cyanobacterial orthologs. vte1-2 causes a truncation within this C-terminal domain, and the resulting mutant phenotype suggests that this domain is necessary for TC activity in plants. The defective export of Suc in sxd1 suggests that in addition to presumed antioxidant activities, tocopherols or tocopherol breakdown products also function as signal transduction molecules, or, alternatively, the DMPBQ that accumulates in sxd1 disrupts signaling required for efficient Suc export in maize.     

Synthesis and neuroprotective activity of bergenin derivatives with antioxidant activity

Norbergenin, which is the O-demethyl derivative of bergenin, the main component of Mallotus japonicus, has been found to show moderate antioxidant activity (IC(50) 13 microM in DPPH radical scavenging; 32 microM in superoxide anion scavenging). Modification of sugar part on norbergenin by coupling with a variety of fatty acids was employed for increasing its antioxidant activity. Selective esterification of hydroxyl groups on the sugar part enhanced greatly antioxidant activity. The most potent one is norbergenin 11-caproate, which not only exhibits stronger antioxidant activity than that of catechin but also prevents neuronal death at 10 microM on the primary culture of rat cortical neurons in DMEM supplemented with N2.     

Pleuromutilin derivatives having a purine ring. Part 1: new compounds with promising antibacterial activity against resistant Gram-positive pathogens

In the course of our research aimed at the discovery of metabolic stable pleuromutilin derivatives with more potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive pathogens than previous analogues, a series of compounds bearing a purine ring were prepared and evaluated. From SAR studies, we identified two promising compounds 85 and 87, which have excellent in vitro activity against a number of Gram-positive pathogens, including existing drug-resistant strains, and potent in vivo efficacy.     

Recycling and antioxidant activity of tocopherol homologs of differing hydrocarbon chain lengths in liver microsomes

Tocopherols (vitamin E) function as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in biomembranes by donating a hydrogen atom to the chain propagating lipid radicals, thus giving rise to chromanoxyl radicals of the antioxidant. We have shown that alpha-tocopherol homologs differing in the lengths of their hydrocarbon side chains (alpha-Cn) manifest strikingly different antioxidant potencies in membranes. The antioxidant activity of tocopherol homologs during (Fe2+ + ascorbate)- or (Fe2+ + NADPH)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes increased in the order alpha-tocopherol (alpha-C16) less than alpha-C11 less than alpha-C6 less than alpha-C1. Chromanoxyl radicals generated from alpha-tocopherol and its more polar homologs by an enzymatic oxidation system (lipoxygenase + linolenic acid) can be recycled in rat liver microsomes by NAD-PH-dependent electron transport or by ascorbate. The efficiency of recycling increased in the same order: alpha-tocopherol (alpha-C16) less than alpha-C11 less than alpha-C6 less than alpha-C1. Thus the high efficiency of regeneration of short-chain homologs of vitamin E may account for their high antioxidant potency.     

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of azole derivatives of hemin

New derivatives of proto- and deuterohemin IX containing tri- and tetrazole rings were synthesized and characterized. A pronounced antioxidant activity was found for these compounds in the Fe(II)/ascorbate-dependent system of lipid peroxidation in murine liver homogenates.     

Synthesis of new chromeno-carbamodithioate derivatives and preliminary evaluation of their antioxidant activity and molecular docking studies

New chromeno carbamodithioates (7a-i), have been synthesized from 2, 3-dimethyl-7-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)-4H-chromen-4-one (5), carbondisulphide and commercially available acyclic and cyclic secondary amines in acetonitrile with good to excellent yields. The free radical scavenging activity of novel chromone-carbamodithioate analogues was quantitatively estimated by spectrophotometric method. Whereas, molecular docking studies were performed with the active site of cyclooxygenase-2 to identify hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and ionic interactions between protein and ligands. The compounds 7g and 7h demonstrated potent antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ of 1.405 ± 0.019 mM and 1.382 ± 0.35 mM respectively compared to Ascorbic acid.     

Anisotropy measurements of intrinsic fluorescence of prenyllipids reveal much higher mobility of plastoquinol than alpha-tocopherol in model membranes

As an alternative to a fluorescent probe approach, the intrinsic fluorescence of reduced forms of prenylquinones has been exploited, which offers a convenient means of determining directly motional properties of these molecules. The steady-state fluorescence anisotropy measurements of plastoquinols (PQH(2)) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) incorporated into phospholipid liposomes have been performed. The effect of prenyllipid concentration, PQH(2) side chain length and the composition of the membranes has been studied. For the data interpretation, the fundamental anisotropy of alpha-Toc, PQH(2), ubiquinol-10 and alpha-tocopherolquinol, as well as the angles between the absorption and emission transition moments have been also determined. It was concluded that alpha-Toc shows very low mobility in the lipid bilayer, whereas PQH(2)-9 displays significant motional freedom in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles and even higher in egg yolk lecithin membranes.     

Studies on the antioxidant activity of some chromonylrhodanine derivatives

Fifteen chromonylrhodamine derivatives (CRs) were synthesized and the antioxidant activity levels were evaluated for the first time. The antioxidant activity potencies of these chromone derivatives were evaluated towards superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radicals. Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the tested compounds was measured using the ferric‐ferrozine assay. The antioxidant activities were investigated using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay, spectrophotometry measurements, direct electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and the EPR spin‐trapping technique. The 5,5‐dimethyl‐ 1‐pyrroline‐1‐oxide (DMPO) was applied as spin trap. Eleven of the 15 chromone compounds exhibited a decrease in the CL accompanying the superoxide anion radical produced in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ranging from 71–94% at concentration of 1 mmol /L; four of these compounds enhanced light emission in the range 231–672%. Similarly, these compounds caused 28–58% inhibition in the intensity of the DMPO‐OOH radical EPR signal and the DMPO‐OH radical (from 12–48%). Furthermore, three of these compounds showed very good antioxidant response towards the DPPH radical (EC₅₀: 0.51–0.56 µmol/L) and the high reduction potentials. These findings demonstrate that the chromone compounds tested may be considered as effective free radicals scavengers, a finding that is of great pharmacological importance. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and antioxidant activity of alpha-pyridoin and its derivatives

Focusing on alpha-pyridoin (1, 1,2-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2-ethenediol) as the lead compound of the novel antioxidative enediol, we synthesized 5,5'- or 6,6'-bis-substituted derivatives of 1 from disubstituted pyridines. The antioxidant activity of 1 and its synthetic derivatives 2-7 was evaluated by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) scavenging assay and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In the DPPH assay, 1 exhibited an activity stronger than that of ascorbic acid, and 5,5'-dimethyl-(5) or 5,5'-dimethoxy-substituted derivatives (6) exhibited more potent activity than 1. The DPPH scavenging activities of alpha-pyridoins were correlated with their oxidation potential and thus the electron density of enediol. 5 and 6 effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation in the rat liver microsome/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system. Therefore, 5 and 6 serve as good candidates for a pharmacologically useful enediol antioxidant.     

Isolation and antioxidant activity evaluation of two new phthalate derivatives from seahorse, Hippocampus Kuda Bleeler

Seahorse (Hippocampus Kuda Bleeler) has been used as traditional medicine for thousands of years, in Eastern Asia. In this study of the methanol extract of fresh Hippocampus Kuda, the new compounds 2-ethyldecyl 2-ethylundecyl phthalate (1), 2, 12-diethyl-11-methylhexadecyl 2-ethyl-11-methylhexadecylphthalate (2), along with a known Bis(2-ethylheptyl) phthalate (3) were isolated. They were tested for their antioxidant activities, including lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, alkyl radical scavenging, and cellular radicals; these can be detected using a fluorescence probe, 2??,7??-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), which could be converted to highly fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) with the presence of intracellular ROS on mouse macrophages, RAW264.7 cell. Compound (2) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and inhibitory intracellular ROS than another compounds (1, 3). Furthermore, MTT assay showed no cytotoxicity on mouse macrophages cell (RAW264.7) and human fetal lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). This antioxidant property depends on concentration and increasing with increased amount of the compound.     

A new category of ovulation inhibitors: linear LH-RH analogues having more than ten residues.

A linear analogue of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, longer than a decapeptide, is described for the first time, which is equivalent in potency to the best known inhibitors of ovulation, and which constitutes an important new lead to the design of inhibitors of even greater potency. At a dosage of 200 μg/rat, the undecapeptide [(1, $\text{D}$-Phe², $\text{D}$-Trp³, $\text{D}$-Trp⁶]-LH-RH caused 100% inhibition of ovulation. The related analogues, [(1, $\text{D}$-Phe², $\text{D}$-Trp³, $\text{D}$-Trp⁶]-LH-RH and [(Gly-Pro)¹, $\text{D}$-Phe², $\text{D}$-Trp³, $\text{D}$-Trp⁶]-LH-RH, were less active, $\text{in}\text{vivo}$. All of these undecapeptides inhibited the action of 0.6 ng/ml of LH-RH by greater than 50% at the very low level of 10 ng/ml.     

Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant activity of new quinoline-2-carbaldehyde hydrazone derivatives: bioisosteric melatonin analogues

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress that can cause fatal damage to vital cell structures. It is known that the use of antioxidants could be beneficial in the prevention or delay of numerous diseases associated with oxidative stress. Melatonin (MLT) is known as a powerful free-radical scavenger and antioxidant. It was found that indole ring of MLT can be employed by bioisosteric replacement by other aromatic rings. Quinoline derivatives constitute an important class of compounds for new drug development. Owing to quinoline and hydrazones appealing physiological properties and are mostly found in numerous biologically active compounds a series of quinoline-2-carbaldehyde hydrazone derivatives were synthesized as bioisosteric analogues of MLT, characterized and in vitro antioxidant activity was investigated by evaluating their reducing effect against oxidation of a redox-sensitive fluorescent probe. Cytotoxicity potential of all compounds was investigated both by lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay and by MTT assay.     

Screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of some pyridazine derivatives

Antioxidants are compounds that can delay, inhibit, or prevent the oxidation of materials that can be oxidized by scavenging free radicals and help in diminishing oxidative stress. They belong to different chemical classes. Recently there are studies related to pyridazinone derivatives for their antioxidant activities. Since there are evidences implicates reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide as mediators of inflammation and/or tissue damage in inflammatory and arthritic disorders it was though that compounds that have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities would have been essential for the inflammatory diseases. Based on these findings a series of 2H-pyridazine-3-one and 6-chloropyridazine analogues that have anti-inflammatory activity was tested in vitro on superoxide formation and effects on lipid peroxidation were determined against alpha-tocopherol. Most of the compounds have strong inhibitory effect on superoxide anion (between 84% - 99%) at 10(- 3) M concentration. In addition, these compounds showed similar activity to alpha-tocopherol at 10(- 3) M concentrations.