Comparative Effects of Aromatic Compounds on Inhibition of Lettuce Fruit Germination

Germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Great Lakes) wasinhibited by aromatic alcohols, aldehydes and carboxylic acidsin a way similar to that by aliphatic members. Increased lipophilicityusually leads to increased inhibitory activity. Thus methylationincreased activity while hydroxylation decreased it. Exceptionswere seen with ortho-hydroxylated compounds and other exceptionsindicated the presence of unrecognized factors. Many of thephenolic compounds often quoted as inhibitors were shown tobe not particularly activeagainst lettuce germination when comparedwith, for instance, abscisic acid or coumarin.     

Comparative Effects of Alicyclic Compounds and Quinones on Inhibition of Lettuce Fruit Germination

Germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Great Lakes) fruitswas inhibited by many alicyclic compounds including monoterpenes.Quinones were particularly active. The hydrocarbons showed littleactivity correlated with their insolubility in water while compoundscontaining a keto group conjugated with a double bond showedhighest activity. As in previous studies the lipophilicity ofthe molecule was one of the main contributing factors to inhibition,provided that the value was not extreme, as for the hydrocarbons.In natural compounds noted for high inhibitory activity, severaldifferent substituents were present in the molecule and it seemslikely that each contributes different factors to the overalleffect. Some of these compounds are well known plant constituentsimplicated in allelopathy. Lettuce germination, Lactuca saliva, monoterpenes, quinones, abscisic acid, lipophilicity, inhibitory activity     

QSARs of some novel isosteric heterocyclics with antifungal activity

QSAR analysis of a set of previously synthesized 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzoxazole, benzimidazole and 2-substituted oxazolo(4,5-b)pyridine derivatives tested for growth inhibitory activity against Candida albicans, was performed by using the computer-assisted multiple regression procedure. The activity contributions for either heterocyclic ring systems or substituent effects of these compounds were determined from the correlation equation and the predictions for the lead optimization were described. The resulting QSAR revealed that the oxazolo(4,5-b)pyridine ring system with the substitution of a benzyl moiety at position 2 was the most favourable structure among the heterocyclic nuclei. Moreover, the fifth position in the fused ring system is found more significant than the other positions in improving the activity.     

Structural requirements of some sulphonamides that possess an antifertility activity in male rats

Sulphonamides with different chemical structures were synthesized and these 13 compounds together with 7 commercially available sulpha drugs were tested for antifertility activity by natural mating in male rats. All compounds were given daily by gastric intubation at doses of 125, 150, 250 or 450 mg/kg for 6 weeks. Sulphapyridine caused a dose-related and reversible reduction in fertility at doses between 125 and 450 mg/kg. At the high dose, fertility was reduced to 25.9% of control at 5 weeks after treatment, and complete recovery occurred by 3 weeks after drug withdrawal. This activity was abolished when the pyridine ring was substituted by other heterocyclic rings, except sulphachloropyridazine which had only weak activity. Replacement of the pyridine ring by a hydrogen atom or short aliphatic chains preserved or even enhanced the potency. Thus, sulphanilamide, N1-methylsulphanilamide or N1-diethylsulphanilamide produced a marked but reversible reduction in fertility. Removal or substitution of the N4-amino group on the benzene ring of sulphapyridine with a methyl group destroyed the activity. However, the bromo or nitro analogue (at the para- but not the meta-position of the benzene ring) still possessed some activity. N4-Acetyl derivatives of sulphapyridine, sulphanilamide, and N1-diethylsulphanilamide were as potent as their parent compounds. These results suggest that the presence of pyridine or other heterocyclic rings is not necessary for the antifertility activity of sulphonamide compounds. However, the N4-amino group is indispensable. In addition, acetylation of this amino group does not change the potency. The prototype of the antifertility sulphonamides therefore seems to be sulphanilamide.     

Inhibition of IκB kinase-β and IκB kinase-α by heterocyclic adamantyl arotinoids

We recently reported on a series of retinoid-related molecules containing an adamantyl group, a.k.a. adamantyl arotinoids (AdArs), that showed significant cancer cell growth inhibitory activity and activated RXRα (NR2B1) in transient transfection assays while devoid of RAR transactivation capacity. We have now explored whether these AdArs could also bind and inhibit IKKβ, a known target that mediates the induction of apoptosis and cancer cell growth inhibition by related AdArs containing a chalcone functional group. In addition, we have prepared and evaluated novel AdArs that incorporate a central heterocyclic ring connecting the adamantyl-phenol and the carboxylic acid at the polar termini. Our results indicate that the majority of the RXRα activating compounds lacked IKKβ inhibitory activity. In contrast, the novel heterocyclic AdArs containing a thiazole or pyrazine ring linked to a benzoic acid motif were potent inhibitors of both IKKα and IKKβ, which in most cases paralleled significant growth inhibitory and apoptosis inducing activities.     

In vitro inhibition effects on erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I and II and structure-activity relationships of cumarylthiazole derivatives

Coumarin and heterocyclic compounds incorporating urea have clinical applications as antiepileptics, diuretics, and antiglaucoma agents due to their carbonic anhydrase inhibitory properties. We investigated inhibition of carbonic anhydrase I and II with a series of coumarylthiazole derivatives containing urea/thiourea groups. All the investigated compounds exhibited inhibitory activity on both hCA I and hCA II, with 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)thiazol-2-yl)urea being the strongest inhibitor. Structure–activity relationship study showed that most of urea derivatives were more inhibiting for hCA I and hCA II than thiourea derivatives. The electron-withdrawing groups at the phenyl ring increased the inhibitory activity compared to electron-donating groups.     

Novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamides as selective GSK-3 inhibitors

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR dependencies for a series of novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamide inhibitors of GSK-3beta kinase are described. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds is highly dependent on the character of substituents in the phenyl ring and the nature of terminal heterocyclic fragment of the core molecular scaffold. The most potent compounds from this series contain 3,4-di-methyl or 2-methoxy substituents within the phenyl ring and 3-pyridine fragment connected to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocycle. These compounds selectively inhibit GSK-3beta kinase with IC(50) value of 0.35 and 0.41 microM, respectively.     

Design and synthesis of novel HDAC8 inhibitory 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles containing glycine and alanine hybrids with anti cancer activity

Oxadiazole is a heterocyclic compound containing an oxygen atom and two nitrogen atoms in a five-membered ring. Of the four oxadiazoles known, 1,3,4-oxadiazole has become an important structural motif for the development of new drugs and the compounds containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole cores have a broad spectrum of biological activity. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (10a–10j) as class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. The compounds were designed and evaluated for HDAC8 selectivity using in silico docking software (Glide) and the top 10 compounds with high dock score and obeying Lipinski’s rule were synthesized organically. Further the biological HDAC inhibitory and selectivity assays and anti-proliferative assays were carried out. In in silico and in vitro studies, all compounds (10a–10j) showed significant HDAC inhibition and exhibited HDAC8 selectivity. Among all tested compounds, 10b showed substantial HDAC8 inhibitory activity and better anticancer activity which is comparable to the positive control, a FDA approved drug, vorinostat (SAHA). Structural activity relation is discussed with various substitutions in the benzene ring connected on 1,3,4-oxadizole and glycine/alanine. The study warranted further investigations to develop HDAC8-selective inhibitory molecule as a drug for neoplastic diseases. Novel 1,3,4-oxadizole substituted with glycine/alanine showed HDAC8 inhibition.     

Comparative Effects of Aliphatic Compounds on Inhibition of Lettuce Fruit Germination

Germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Great Lakes) fruitswas inhibited by alcohols, aldehydes and ketones. Inhibitoryactivity increased with increasing length of the carbon chain,being lower for the branched chain isomers. Additional hydroxylgroups decreased inhibitory activity. Allyl alcohol and acro-lcinwere markedly inhibitory but usually unsaturation in the chainhad little effect. Although the main structure-activity correlationwas with lipophilic properties some other structural featuresmodified the action. A comparison was made between these findingsand effects recorded in the literature on membrane perturbationsespecially in connection with mitochondrial activity.     

Heterocyclic cellular lipid peroxidation inhibitors inspired by the marine antioxidant barettin

The marine environment remains a rich source for the discovery and development of novel bioactive compounds. The present paper describes the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a library of small molecule heterocyclic mimetics of the marine 2,5-diketopiperazine barettin which is a powerful natural antioxidant. By mainly focusing on the influence from the brominated indole and heterocyclic core of barettin, a library of 19 compounds was prepared. The compounds comprised a heterocyclic core, either a 2,5 diketopiperazine, an imidazolidinedione or a thioxothiazolidinone, which were mainly monosubstituted with ranging bulky substituents. The prepared compounds were screened for activity in a cellular lipid peroxidation assay using HepG2 cells. Several of the synthetic compounds showed antioxidant properties superior to the positive control barettin. Two of the prepared compounds displayed inhibitory activity similar to commercial antioxidants with significant inhibition at low µg/mL concentrations. The toxicity of the compounds was also investigated against MRC-5 lung fibroblasts and none of the included compounds displayed any toxicity at 50 µg/mL.     

Dicaffeoyl- or digalloyl pyrrolidine and furan derivatives as HIV integrase inhibitors.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase (IN) catalyzes the integration of HIV DNA copy into the host cell DNA. Such integration is essential for the production of progeny viruses, and therefore therapeutic agents that can inhibit this process should be effective anti-HIV agents. We have previously reported the inhibitory activity of dicaffeoylglucosides against HIV IN. In the present study, we have synthesized and tested dicaffeoyl or digalloyl compounds joined through a five-membered heterocyclic ring as HIV IN inhibitors to explore the SARs of this family of compounds. The starting heterocyclic diols were prepared from L-tartaric acid, diethyl L-tartarate or D-(+)-ribonic gamma-lactone. We found that the HIV IN inhibitory activities of dicaffeoyl derivatives were comparable to that of L-chicoric acid (IC(50)=24.9 microM). On the other hand, digalloyl derivatives were more potent than L-chicoric acid with IC(50) values of 4.7--15.6 microM.     

Comparative toxicities of mimosine and some chemically related compounds to mouse bone marrow cells in liquid culture

Mimosine, a plant amino acid which is toxic in mammals, was shown to be a potent inhibitor of incorporation of [3H]thymidine in mouse bone marrow cells in liquid culture (is greater than 70% inhibition at a concentration of 2 x 10(-4) M). To determine the parts of the molecule responsible for the inhibitory mechanism the effects of 13 chemically related compounds were examined in this system. The structural features necessary for inhibitory activity of the 4(1H)-pyridones were (1) the 3-hydroxyl-4-oxo function of the pyridone ring together with (2) an alpha-alanine or a 2-aminoethyl side chain. Compounds based on several other hydroxy heterocyclic functions were either weakly active or inactive. 3-Hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone, the goitrogen to which mimosine is converted in ruminants, was only slightly inhibitory. These results are compared with published information on the effects of some of these compounds on other types of mammalian cells in vitro. The mouse bone marrow system in which inhibition of incorporation of [3H]thymidine is used as an index of cytotoxicity was shown to be sensitive and reproducible, and could be useful for structure-activity investigations of other cytotoxic compounds.     

Synthesis, antiviral and antitumor activity of 2-substituted-5-amidino-benzimidazoles

We have prepared a set of heterocyclic benzimidazole derivatives bearing amidino substituents at C-5 of benzimidazole ring, by introducing various heterocyclic nuclei (pyridine, N-methyl-pyrrole or imidazole) at C-2, and evaluated their antitumor and antiviral activities. The most pronounced antiproliferative activity was shown with compounds 6 and 9, having imidazolinylamidino-substituent. Interestingly, all compounds show noticeable selectivity toward breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The most distinct and selective antiviral activity toward coxsackieviruses and echoviruses was observed with compounds having pyridine ring at C-2. Especially interesting was fairly strong activity of 4 and 8 toward adenoviruses, which could be considered as leads against adenoviral replication.     

Germination Inhibitors in Fruit Extracts of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris cv. rubra

Germination inhibitors in methanol and water extracts of redbeet fruits (Beta vulgaris cv. rubra L.) have been studied usinglettuce and red beet seed germination as bioassays. The methanolextracts contained substances which inhibited lettuce seed germination,but had no effect on the germination of red beet seeds. Germinationof both lettuce seeds and of water-leached or sulphuric acid-treatedred beet seed balls were inhibited by the water extracts. Theconcentrations of ammonia, ferulic acid, and oxalate in thewater extracts were much lower than required for inhibitionof red beet seed germination. The water extracts contained,however, large amounts of inorganic ions, and the results clearlydemonstrated that the inhibitory effect of the water extractson red beet seed germination was mainly due to the content ofsuch inorganic ions.     

Synthesis of 1-/2-substituted-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-g]phthalazine-4,9-diones and evaluation of their cytotoxicity and topoisomerase II inhibition

Studies on antitumor heterocyclic quinones containing nitrogens revealed that the number and position of nitrogens on the heterocyclic ring have significance on cytotoxicity of quinones. In our continuous effort to find more cytotoxic quinone compounds, we designed triazolophthalazine analogues in order to introduce more nitrogens on the heterocyclic quinones. 1-/2-Substituted-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-g]phthalazine-4,9-diones were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar addition of phthalazine-5,8-dione and 4-methoxybenzyl azide by modification of previously reported method. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated by a SRB (sulforhodamine B) assay against nine types of human cancer cell lines and inhibition against topoisomerase II (Topo II) of them was assessed by a decatenation assay. Most of the synthesized compounds showed considerably higher cytotoxicity than that of doxorubicin. Also, topoisomerase II inhibitory activity of the tested compounds was higher than that of etoposide and IC(50) values of the compounds were 19.4-64.5 microM.     

Pyrazole derivatives as potent inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinase: Synthesis and SAR studies

Mitogen activated protein kinases including c-Jun N-terminal kinase play an indispensable role in inflammatory diseases. Investigation of reported JNK-1 inhibitors indicated that diverse heterocyclic compounds bearing an amide group rendered potent JNK-1 inhibitory activity which prompted us to synthesize new JNK-1 inhibitors containing a pyrazole heterocyclic group. A DABCO mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction in neat resulted in pyrazole carboxylic acid which was converted to desired amides. Upon confirmation of the structures, all the compounds were screened for JNK-1 inhibitory activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Several synthesized analogues have exhibited JNK-1 inhibitory activity less than 10 μM, in particular compounds 9c, 10a and 10d were found to be potent among all the compounds.     

Key structural features of cis-cinnamic acid as an allelochemical

1-O-cis-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucopyranose is one of the most potent allelochemicals isolated from Spiraea thunbergii Sieb. It is suggested that it derives its strong inhibitory activity from cis-cinnamic acid, which is crucial for phytotoxicity. It was synthesized to confirm its structure and bioactivity, and also a series of cis-cinnamic acid analogues were prepared to elucidate the key features of cis-cinnamic acid for lettuce root growth inhibition. The cis-cyclopropyl analogue showed potent inhibitory activity while the saturated and alkyne analogues proved to be inactive, demonstrating the importance of the cis-double bond. Moreover, the aromatic ring could not be replaced with a saturated ring. However, the 1,3-dienylcyclohexene analogue showed strong activity. These results suggest that the geometry of the C–C double bond between the carboxyl group and the aromatic ring is essential for potent inhibitory activity. In addition, using several light sources, the photostability of the cinnamic acid derivatives and the role of the C–C double bond were also investigated.     

Action of pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives on Trypanosoma rangeli culture forms

The capacity of 54 different pyrazolo(3,4-d)- or pyrazolo(4,3-d)pyrimidine derivatives to inhibit the multiplication of Trypanosoma rangeli culture forms was evaluated. Among pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidines, 14 derivatives showed trypanostatic activity, 4-aminopyrazolo-(3,4-d)pyrimidine (APP) being the most active, with 4-hydroxypyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine (HPP) lacking trypanostatic activity. 7-Hydroxy-3-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo(4,3-d)pyrimidine (FoB) was as active as 7-amino-3-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo(4,3-d)pyrimidine (FoA), both compounds being five-fold less inhibitory than APP. It can be concluded that, regarding T. rangeli, the chemical analogy to hypoxanthine or inosine of pyrazolo(3,4-d)- and pyrazolo(4,3-d)pyrimidine, respectively, is not absolutely critical, as different modifications on the heterocyclic ring did not abolish the inhibitory activity of these compounds.     

Synthesis and biological activity of sulphostin analogues, novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors

The structure of sulphostin (1), a novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor, is consisted of three key functional groups, including a characteristic amino(sulfoamino)phosphinyl group, on a piperidine ring. To examine the relationship between its structure and the inhibitory activity against DPP-IV, various analogues were synthesized and their activities were investigated. These results indicated that all of the functional groups on the piperidine ring were crucial to the DPP-IV inhibitory activity of sulphostin, and that the sulfonic acid group, which constructed the amino(sulfoamino)phosphinyl group, contributed to the stability of the compound. Moreover, those functional groups should be adjoined on the piperidine ring for the inhibitory activity. The size of the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring including piperidine appeared to scarcely affect the activity. In the present study, the sulfonic acid-deficient five-membered ring analogue 27a showed the strongest inhibitory activity (IC50=11 nM).     

Interaction of Moisture Stress and Three Phenolic Compounds on Lettuce Seed Germination

No interactions between water stress and three phenolic acids(p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids) on lettuce (Lactucasativa L. var. Grand Rapids) seed germination were found. Probitanalysis indicated that mechanisms of action of water stressand the phenolic inhibitors were similar. The relative effectivenessof the compounds was p-coumaric > ferulic > caffeic. Nointeraction was found between p-coumaric and ferulic acid, whereasantagonism was found between caffeic acid and each of the othertwo phenolic acids. Lactuca sativa L., lettuce, germination, phenolic compounds, moisture stress, allelopathy, seed