Investigation of the in vitro antioxidant behaviour of some 2-phenylindole derivatives: discussion on possible antioxidant mechanisms and comparison with melatonin

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of many neurodegenerative diseases and also responsible from aging and some cancer types. Indolic compounds are a broad family of substances present in microorganisms, plants and animals. They are mainly related to tryptophan metabolism, and present particular properties that depend on their respective chemical structures. Due to free radical scavenger and antioxidant properties of indolic derivatives such as indolinic nitroxides and melatonin, a series of 2-phenyl indole derivatives were prepared and their in vitro effects on rat liver lipid peroxidation levels, superoxide formation and DPPH stable radical scavenging activities were determined against melatonin, BHT and α-tocopherol. The compounds significantly inhibited (72–98%) lipid peroxidation at 10^{? 3} M. These values were similar to that observed with BHT (88%). Possible structure–activity relationships of the compounds were discussed.     

Effects of nicotine and vitamin E on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in some rat tissues in vivo and in vitro

Effects of nicotine, and nicotine + vitamin E on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) activity in rat muscle, heart, lungs, testicle, kidney, stomach, brain and liver were investigated in vivo and in vitro on partially purified homogenates. Supplementation period was 3 weeks (n = 8 rats per group): nicotine [0.5 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (ip)]; nicotine + vitamin E [75 mg/kg/day, intragastric (ig)]; and control group (receiving only vehicle). The results showed that nicotine (0.5 mg/kg, ip) inhibited G-6PD activity in the lungs, testicle, kidney, stomach and brain by 12.5% (p < 0.001), 48% (p < 0.001), 20.8% (p < 0.001), 13% (p < 0.001) and 23.35% (p < 0.001) respectively, and nicotine had no effects on the muscle, heart and liver G6PD activity. Also, nicotine + vitamin E inhibited G-6PD activity in the testicle, brain, and liver by 32.5% (p < 0.001), 21.5% (p < 0.001), and 16.5% (p < 0.001) respectively, and nicotine + vitamin E activated the muscle, and stomach G-6PD activity by 36% (p < 0.05), and 20% (p < 0.001) respectively. In addition, nicotine + vitamin E did not have any effects on the heart, lungs, and kidney G-6PD activity. In addition, in vitro studies were also carried out to elucidate the effects of nicotine and vitamin E on G-6PD activity, which correlated well with in vivo experimental results in lungs, testicles, kidney, stomach, brain and liver tissues. These results show that vitamin E administration generally restores the inactivation of G-6PD activity due to nicotine administration in various rat tissues in vivo, and also in vitro.     

Synthesis of naphthalimide derivatives with potential anticancer activity,their comparative ds- and G-quadruplex-DNA binding studies and related biological activities

Molecular Biology Reports - Two new cytotoxic 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. Their biological activities as cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities and...     

Saikosaponin-d,a novel SERCA inhibitor,induces autophagic cell death in apoptosis-defective cells

Autophagy is an important cellular process that controls cells in a normal homeostatic state by recycling nutrients to maintain cellular energy levels for cell survival via the turnover of proteins and damaged organelles. However, persistent activation of autophagy can lead to excessive depletion of cellular organelles and essential proteins, leading to caspase-independent autophagic cell death. As such, inducing cell death through this autophagic mechanism could be an alternative approach to the treatment of cancers. Recently, we have identified a novel autophagic inducer, saikosaponin-d (Ssd), from a medicinal plant that induces autophagy in various types of cancer cells through the formation of autophagosomes as measured by GFP-LC3 puncta formation. By computational virtual docking analysis, biochemical assays and advanced live-cell imaging techniques, Ssd was shown to increase cytosolic calcium level via direct inhibition of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase pump, leading to autophagy induction through the activation of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase–AMP-activated protein kinase–mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. In addition, Ssd treatment causes the disruption of calcium homeostasis, which induces endoplasmic reticulum stress as well as the unfolded protein responses pathway. Ssd also proved to be a potent cytotoxic agent in apoptosis-defective or apoptosis-resistant mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, which either lack caspases 3, 7 or 8 or had the Bax-Bak double knockout. These results provide a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of Ssd, as a novel autophagic inducer, which has the potential of being developed into an anti-cancer agent for targeting apoptosis-resistant cancer cells.     

The effects of Nigella sativa on bile duct ligation induced‐liver injury in rats

Nigella sativa (NS) has been shown to have antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities in different conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of NS on cholestatic liver injury in rats. Thirty rats were recruited in the study as follows: Group 1, Bile duct ligation (BDL) (n = 10); Group 2, BDL plus NS (n = 10); and Group 3, Sham (n = 10). Bile duct ligated group received 0.2 mL kg^?1 dose of NS intraperitoneally daily throughout 14 days. Liver damage and cholestasis were determined by the biochemical and the pathologic examination. Data showed a decrease in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities of the NS treated rats when compared with BDL group (p < 0.001 for GGT and p < 0.05 for others). The NS treated rats' tissue levels of total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were significantly lower than that of the BDL group (p < 0.01 for all). Increases in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase (CAT) levels were statistically significant in the NS treated rats compared to BDL group (p < 0.01 for both). On the other hand, administration of NS in the rats with biliary obstruction resulted in inhibition of necro‐inflammation. These results indicate that NS exerts a therapeutic effect on cholestatic liver injury in bile duct ligated rats possibly through attenuation of enhanced neutrophil infiltration and oxidative stress in the liver tissue. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and antioxidant properties of novel benzimidazole derivatives

Some novel benzimidazole derivatives carrying thiosemicarbazide and triazole moieties at the N1 position were synthesized and their in vitro effects on rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) levels determined by measuring the formation of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. The free radical scavenging properties of the compounds were also examined in vitro by determining the capacity to scavenge superoxide anion formation and the interaction with the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The compounds showed a significant effect in the above tests except to scavenge superoxide anion formation.     

Purification and investigation of some kinetic properties of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves

In this study, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49; G6PD) was purified from parsley (Petroselinum hortense) leaves, and analysis of the kinetic behavior and some properties of the enzyme were investigated. The purification consisted of three steps: preparation of homogenate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange chromatography. The enzyme was obtained with a yield of 8.79% and had a specific activity of 2.146 U (mg protein)(-1). The overall purification was about 58-fold. Temperature of +4 degrees C was maintained during the purification process. Enzyme activity was spectrophotometrically measured according to the Beutler method, at 340 nm. In order to control the purification of enzyme, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out in 4% and 10% acrylamide for stacking and running gel, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band for enzyme. The molecular weight was found to be 77.6 kDa by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration chromatography. A protein band corresponding to a molecular weight of 79.3 kDa was obtained on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For the enzymes, the stable pH, optimum pH, and optimum temperature were found to be 6.0, 8.0, and 60 degrees C, respectively. Moreover, KM and Vmax values for NADP+ and G6-P at optimum pH and 25 degrees C were determined by means of Lineweaver-Burk graphs. Additionally, effects of streptomycin sulfate and tetracycline antibiotics were investigated for the enzyme activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in vitro.     

The value of CEA and CA 19-9 in detecting cancer in a group of high-risk subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of CEA and CA 19-9 in a potential high-risk population of subjects with gastrointestinal complaints. The basic question was whether the determination of these markers, in addition to some other clinical features in this high risk population, could be helpful in diagnosing intraabdominal cancer. Two hundred and two patients with gastrointestinal complaints underwent standard diagnostic procedures and were followed for at least one year. For every patient, CEA and CA 19-9 levels were obtained at the first examination; the evaluating physician was blinded to the marker levels. The determinants of the likelihood of cancer were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Seventeen patients were diagnosed as having intraabdominal cancers. With the presence of melena (RR = 101.63, p = 0.007), nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms (RR = 12.54, p = 0.026), increasing age (RR = 1.09, p = 0.028) and abnormal CEA (RR = 240.79, p = 0.000), the risk of having cancer increased significantly and independently. The presence of a primary gastric complaint was associated with a lower risk of cancer in this cohort (RR = 0.01, p = 0.04). Markers were not used in the diagnostic workup. In conclusion, in patients presenting with gastrointestinal complaints, the finding of elevated CEA levels may help in the diagnosis of cancer by prompting a more extensive search for intraabdominal cancer.     

Ligand design for alpha1 adrenoceptor subtype selective antagonists

Alpha1 adrenoceptors have three subtypes and drugs interacting selectively with these subtypes could be useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases. In order to gain an insight into the structural principles governing subtype selectivity, ligand based drug design (pharmacophore development) methods have been used to design a novel 1,2,3-thiadiazole ring D analogue of the aporphine system. Synthesis and testing of this compound as a ligand on cloned and expressed human alpha1 adrenoceptors is described. Low binding affinity was found, possibly due to an unfavourable electrostatic potential distribution. Pharmacophore models for antagonists at the three adrenoceptor sites (alpha1A, alpha1B, alpha1D) were generated from a number of different training sets and their value for the design of new selective antagonists discussed. The first preliminary antagonist pharmacophore model for the alpha1D adrenoceptor subtype is also reported.